Ask for help from the private sector, Robredo tells DOH

Published Jun 7, 2020 6:00:59 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 7) — Vice President Leni Robredo told the Department of Health to ask for assistance from the private sector, amid its deficiencies and inconsistencies.

“Kung sobrang overloaded na tayo, hingi na tayo ng tulong… Iyong mga pwedeng i-assign sa private, i-assign na sa private,” Robredo said Sunday in her weekly radio show ‘Biserbisyong Leni.’

[Translation: If you feel overloaded, ask for help. Those that can be assigned to the private (sector), assign to them.]

The vice president said that she understands the challenges that the DOH is facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, however, she thinks that the handling of the problem lacks system.

“Sana iyong mga nagma-manage, i-professionalize na lahat kasi talagang iyong buong taumbayan iyong magsa-suffer kung hindi systematic, hindi strategic, hindi organized iyong pagtrabaho,” Robredo said.

[Translation: I hope those who are managing (the system), professionalize everything already because the citizens will suffer if it is not systematic, not strategic, and unorganized.]

She cited the slow accreditation process for laboratories. The vice president said that what the DOH can do is accredit the private laboratories that can really help them improve the testing process.

Robredo also cited the department’s “inconsistencies” when it comes to data. She said the department can ask for help from the private sector because surely there will be firms willing to help improve the system.

As of June 5, the country has 41 licensed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) laboratories and 13 licensed GeneXpert laboratories. There are 141 applications for accreditation, 112 of which are at stage 3 or above.

The government earlier said that the country’s estimated testing capacity is at 32,000 tests daily, but actual testing capacity is 8,500 to 9,000 per day.

The DOH also changed its way of presenting data to differentiate “fresh” cases from “late” cases, amid an alarming surge in infections as the country transitioned to more relaxed quarantine restrictions.

The total number of cases in the country has already exceeded 21,000.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/6/7/robredo-tells-doh-to-ask-help-from-private-sector.html