{"id":5951,"date":"2023-03-15T20:07:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T12:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csspsinag.wordpress.com\/?p=5951"},"modified":"2023-03-15T20:07:55","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T12:07:55","slug":"a-healthcare-system-left-untreated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2023\/03\/15\/a-healthcare-system-left-untreated\/","title":{"rendered":"A healthcare system left untreated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three years since the coronavirus paralyzed the world and Metro Manila went under lockdown, there is still no accountability for the bungled pandemic response. Aside from COVID and its devastating effects, the pandemic exposed a much larger issue \u2013 the healthcare system itself is sick, afflicted by the diseases of incompetence and corruption.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Three years since the coronavirus paralyzed the world and Metro Manila went under lockdown, there is still no accountability for the bungled pandemic response. Aside from COVID and its devastating effects, the pandemic exposed a much larger issue \u2013 the healthcare system itself is sick, afflicted by the diseases of incompetence and corruption.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A corruption-ridden pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As COVID cases rose to the millions, cases upon cases of corruption also piled onto the Department of Health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ: https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/12\/coa-flags-doh-for-poor-management-of-p67-billion-covid-19-funds\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July 2020, for instance, anti-fraud legal officer Atty. Thorrsson Montes Keith of Philhealth resigned from his position due to the manifestation of widespread corruption in the agency. The alleged corrupted funds reached a total of \u20b115B which was later disclosed to have been distributed to hospitals through the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) as cash advance since only \u20b11B was actually liquidated as reported by the Commission on Audit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the Commission on Audit later on revealed that this mishandling of funds resulted in an overpayment ranging from \u20b181.507 million to \u20b12.208 billion. One can only imagine the number of testing kits, masks, and ventilators that could have been purchased for this amount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following these findings of the Senate and the House of Representatives, they recommended charges to be filed against then Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, resigned PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales, and other PhilHealth executives. Former President Rodrigo Duterte even intervened in the process and defended Duque to be spared from the charges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ: https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/17\/despite-coa-report-duque-insists-no-covid-funds-were-stolen\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of writing, no further developments have been heard on this matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government did not stop there as it agreed to shady deals with third parties like Pharmally. Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, a newly-created company with no credible history and track record, was awarded contracts amounting to over \u20b110 billion. Instead of high-quality equipment, these billions, according to investigations in the Senate, were for dangerously low-quality personal protective equipment, thus putting healthcare workers in harm’s way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ: https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/25\/delikadong-kalidad-ng-ppe-idinidistribute-pa-rin-sa-kabila-ng-kwestiyonableng-bilyun-bilyong-bayad-sa-pharmally\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Implicated in the scandal is former President Duterte himself. Duterte is a longtime friend of Michael Yang, a Chinese businessman who has been identified as Pharmally\u2019s financier and guarantor. He even appointed Yang as his economic advisor \u2013 a clear point of leverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lloyd Christopher Lao, signatory to the contracts, also has friends in high places. Then executive director of Procurement Service \u2013 Department of Budget and Management, Lao was a former assistant of Senator Bong Go. Despite Go\u2019s attempt to distance himself from Lao \u2013 knowing full well that these connections are suspicious \u2013 Lao\u2019s official profile says he worked as undersecretary in the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, Go\u2019s former office before he entered the Senate in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The findings of the senate blue ribbon committee recommended plunder, graft, and other criminal charges to be filed against the officials involved \u2013 including, of course, former President Duterte. But just like the Philheath issue, no further developments have been heard of on this matter \u2013 even half a year after Duterte stepped down from the presidency, he still has not been held accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the government\u2019s vaccination drive was marred with corruption and incompetence. Tthe Philippines rolled out its vaccination program in March 2021, being the last country in Southeast Asia to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digging deeper into the vaccine allocation funds reveals that the initial figure \u2013 P82.5 billion \u2013 was only for show. While Congress did indeed allocate P82.5 billion, only P2.5 billion  of this is readily accessible, while the remaining P80 billion was yet to be funded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make matters worse, the government favored Chinese pharmaceutical companies despite these not only being less effective, but even more expensive than other vaccines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite eventually acquiring the logistics needed for the rollout, the government still failed in its role to administer the doses. Government officials jumped the line on getting their COVID vaccine \u2013 the World Health Organization even warned that they would stop providing free vaccines to the country through COVAX if this was to persist. To add to this crisis, the government failed to keep up with the rate of rollout, \u2013 as over 60 million vaccines are expected to go to waste because of expiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This blunder of a vaccination rollout program did not only cost human lives in the process but it greatly damaged the economy with the nation lagging behind other countries. More than this, it exposed a system of crony capitalism that has long plagued the government even before the pandemic. All this with no one to be held accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a final missing cherry on the top \u2013 a health secretary. Despite all of these issues to be resolved, we are yet to see a replacement for the blunderous health secretary Francisco Duque III. Ever since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took his position at the palace, he has only appointed an officer-in-charge to head the department despite the health crisis worsening as the days progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One must ask: can Marcos somehow justify leaving the position unoccupied, or should we accept the alternative \u2013 that no one wants the job? Admittedly, this second option is believable. No one wants to be the person tasked with fixing the problems left behind by the previous administration, especially with the current President still an ally and Duterte\u2019s presidential daughter still in Malaca\u00f1ang, now Vice President herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been three years since the NCR Lockdown, and not a single person has been held accountable for the mismanagement of the government in its pandemic response, nor have there been any significant steps to address these failures. The healthcare system is writhing in pain and sick to its core, but those in power have no intention to treat it, precisely because they are the ones benefiting from its agony in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image courtesy of Philippine Star<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Three years since the coronavirus paralyzed the world and Metro Manila went under lockdown, there is still no accountability for the bungled pandemic response. Aside from COVID and its devastating effects, the pandemic exposed a much larger issue \u2013 the healthcare system itself is sick, afflicted by the diseases of incompetence and corruption.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5954,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-5951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cdo-14_2021-06-29_21-21-28-1.jpeg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2342,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/17\/cruel-work-conditions-force-healthcare-workers-to-seek-other-options-amid-raging-pandemic\/","url_meta":{"origin":5951,"position":0},"title":"Cruel work conditions force healthcare workers to seek other options amid raging pandemic","author":"Staff","date":"17 September 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Nurses in Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Memorial Hospital (DJPRMH) in General Santos are made to wear diapers due to an imposition of a no bathroom break policy to cut costs in personal protective equipment (PPE). Nurses and healthcare workers\u2019 (HCW) working conditions continue to worsen as COVID-19 cases skyrocket due\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2047,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/07\/ecq-mecq-gcq-mgcq-the-never-ending-facade-of-an-incompetent-government\/","url_meta":{"origin":5951,"position":1},"title":"ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ: The Never-ending Facade of an Incompetent Government","author":"Staff","date":"7 September 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"These labels, for as long as they continue to serve a self-interested government, are nothing but a facade attempting to conceal a self-serving and corrupt agenda. This is manifested in the opportunistic militarisation of the pandemic and the adoption of an iron fist-like response to the issue at hand. When\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/features\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-2-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-2-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-2-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-2-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-2-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-2-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2196,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/14\/how-do-social-sciences-see-the-pandemic-let-aghambayan-explain\/","url_meta":{"origin":5951,"position":2},"title":"How do social sciences see the pandemic? 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He pointed out that the group has \u201cnever said anything good about the government response.\u201d Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque lashed out during a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cass-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cass-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cass-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cass-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1833,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/26\/dutertes-pandemic-response-unscientific-wasteful-and-anti-poor\/","url_meta":{"origin":5951,"position":4},"title":"Duterte\u2019s pandemic response: Unscientific, wasteful, and anti-poor","author":"Staff","date":"26 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"When it comes to dealing with COVID-19, the Philippines falls far short of expectations compared to the rest of Southeast Asia and much of the world. When it comes to dealing with COVID-19, the Philippines falls far short of expectations compared to the rest of Southeast Asia and much of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5220,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/09\/03\/csspsc-mental-health-resol-pushes-for-student-services-academic-ease\/","url_meta":{"origin":5951,"position":5},"title":"CSSPSC Mental Health Resol pushes for student services, academic ease","author":"Staff","date":"3 September 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Recognizing the worsening state of mental health among students because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council,\u00a0 UP Visayas School of Technology Student Council, and UP Manila Dentistry Student Council pushed for a resolution \u201cto campaign for mental health in the university\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/features\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-10.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-10.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-10.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-10.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-10.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-10.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":122,"user_id":9,"is_guest":0,"slug":"csspsinag","display_name":"Staff","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/194807626fee183640d3de57e788ba7c8c0d40bd86bfc1237bed56bcd3832c1b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5951"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5951\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5951"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}