DOH in talks with front-liners as med groups call for ECQ

In a joint letter, several medical societies asked the Duterte administration to declare Metro Manila under ECQ from August 1 to 15 to “recalibrate strategies” against Covid-19. (File Photo by Ashkan Forouzani/Unsplash)

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said it is in talks with the country’s medical community as the latter called for a “time out” and the shift of Metro Manila back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“We are currently in dialogue with our medical front-liners to discuss the best steps forward, and in so doing, we will ensure to strike a balance among all the important factors that we have to take into account,” it said in a statement.

In a joint letter, several medical societies asked the Duterte administration to declare Metro Manila under ECQ from August 1 to 15 to “recalibrate strategies” against Covid-19.

“Health care workers are united in sounding off a distress signal to the nation – our health care system has been overwhelmed,” the letter posted at the Philippine College of Physicians page read.

The medical workers said the government should use the two-week ECQ as a “time out” to address several issues, including those on case finding and isolation, contact tracing, hospital workforce deficiency, transportation and workplace safety, and public compliance with self-protection.

“We understand that imposing an enhanced community quarantine is a complex decision. Though health may be just one dimension, let us remember that we need healthy people to reinvigorate our economy,” the health workers said.

“The health sector cannot hold the line for much longer. Our health workers should not bear the burden of deciding who lives and who dies. If the health system collapse(s), it is ultimately our people who are most compromised.

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In its statement, the DOH said it acknowledges the sacrifices medical front-liners have made since the health crisis began.

It also supported their call for the proper enforcement of community quarantines amid the spike in confirmed Covid-19 cases.

“We support the call of our front-liners to ensure appropriate implementation of community quarantines to ensure the protection of our health workers, but while the government is taking the necessary actions to address the situation, we emphasize that it is also the duty of every citizen to ensure that our health system is not overwhelmed,” the DOH said.

‘We hear you’

In a separate statement, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured that he would forward the inputs of concerned medical societies to the IATF-EID.

“We have noted in particular your call for a time out for the NCR. We will bring it to the full attention of the IATF and present to them more comprehensive strategies to protect our ranks,” Duque said.

He said the DOH commits to doing more to support Filipino front-liners with its plans to facilitate lodging, transportation, food, and personal protective equipment.

“We hear you. The DOH, as the lead of the Task Group on Response Operations, will work with the National Task Force in effectively implementing localized lockdowns, and ensure that the national government will provide comprehensive support,” Duque said.

He added that the government would revisit and include all the recommendations it gathered in its overall game plan.

Within the next seven days, he said the DOH would develop this strategy, in coordination with its government and non-government counterparts.