The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said Tuesday it implemented a policy change that recognizes the combined service hours of part-time medical professionals at the University of the Philippines-Manila, addressing a longstanding concern for doctors who serve in dual capacities.
Under Board Resolution No. 88 approved on Sept. 24, 2024 by the GSIS board of trustees, part-time professors at UP College of Medicine who also work as medical specialists at Philippine General Hospital without compensation — or vice versa — will now have all their service hours counted toward their total length of government service for retirement benefits.
“This policy change reflects our commitment to recognize the full value of service that our members provide to the nation,” GSIS president and general manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso said.
“The dedication of UP doctors goes beyond traditional employment boundaries. By including previously unrecognized hours in their government service computation, we are acknowledging their true contributions to our country’s health care and education systems,” he said.
The policy specifically addresses the limited number of plantilla positions for regular faculty members at UPCM, which has necessitated the hiring of part-time specialists without compensation.
The resolution acknowledges that both UPCM and PGH fall under the supervision of the UP Manila chancellor, establishing them as a singular employer entity.
UP Manila officials, led by Chancellor Michael Tee, presented GSIS with a certificate of appreciation during a ceremony at the GSIS headquarters in Pasay City.
Dr. John Anonuevo, chief of the Department of Medicine at PGH, lauded the resolution, saying it “soundly reaffirms the selfless acts done by part-time faculty and medical specialists in UP Manila and PGH.”
Anonuevo noted his own 34-year service history, including 28 years in dual clinical and teaching roles.