compendium-grouptwo

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No Patients Left Behind

Written by:  Kyle Andrich I. Rodil & Aisha A. Usop

On the 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized COVID-19 as a "pandemic". The said term transitioned every movement regarding health. From then on, hospitals and other healthcare facilities upped their COVID-19 patients as their priority. The national government even had the centralized hospital occupancy monitoring system for COVID-19 cases improved. Looking at other side, what's the case for those whose case is not the Coronavirus one?

Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, healthcare establishments are more focused on treating the COVID-19 patients. To add information, the impact of the virus on health information systems activities were found to be mixed; task-shifting were common in operating areas with lean health care team, the staff there performing additional duties related to COVID-19 on top of their usual role (Bayani & Tan, 2021). This further implies facilities having a hard time treating other patients. These other cases need to wait more than the usual waiting time, causing their illness to be worse. Some are done online, which is ineffective for most cases.

There are many illness lurking around nowadays, some are serious and some are mild. Every illness should be treated immediately even if it's not the coronavirus. Basic healthcare is right for every human being. The right to health must be enjoyed without discrimination on the grounds of race, age, ethnicity or any other status and should be availed every time. Although it's understandable that every health foundation classify COVID-19 as top priority, they should similarly serve patients with conditions other than Coronavirus, just as important as the already prioritized situations.

Overall, healthcare facilities should be readily available to everyone, not just COVID-19 patients but for every kind of patients. They should divide their place, so it will be a safe place for patients who are not COVID-19 cased. Furthermore, these establishments should provide spaces for non-COVID-19 patients, especially the ones with no access to any virtual healthcare assistance. That way, one can say that medical institutions are prompt and punctual in handling patients in the midst of pandemic.

References:

https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.abs-cbn.com/amp/news/06/16/21/philippines-upgrades-covid-19-hospital-referral-system-after-complaints-says-official

https://www.cgdev.org/publication/health-systems-impact-covid-19-philippines

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Pandemic’s Healthcare System: The Real Failure

Written by: Lianne Marie C. Borja & Wilhelmina Marie M.  Calugay

Healthcare systems in the Philippines during the global pandemic have been struggling. From the lack of frontliners to the abundance of daily Covid-19 cases, the system is failing to aid it’s workers and patients. Even with constant assurance from the Department of Health that everything is stable and under control, it is evident how lacking the healthcare workforce in this country is. Although, the Philippines is not alone in this problem. Even first world countries like the United Kingdom and Italy who have government-run healthcare systems are delayed in effort (Council on Foreign Relations. 2020).  

From daily reports of Covid-19 cases in the world increasing due to new variants spreading to the lack of vaccines in some countries to achieve herd immunity, the healthcare system needs all the help it could get. In the Philippines, the government’s support has been ineffective in giving it’s healthcare workers and frontliners the proper payment for their service. There is negligence on how the government addresses their awareness on what the frontline workers’ demands are. The frontliners are the backbone of the healthcare system. Without them, the system would not be able to function. Feigning ignorance towards their needs is where the government fails their duty to these everyday heroes.  

During this time of the pandemic, they risked their lives every day to help and treat those who are infected, having no time to rest or see their family. When the sudden outbreak happened, the shortage of nurses and doctors became more apparent. The Philippines had been the largest exporter of nurses in the world – out of the 2.2 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for many years because other countries offered better career opportunities and higher wages, which they used to support their family (Lorenzo et. al, 2007). The demand for Filipino nurses to work abroad has drained our own supply, incapacitating our already fragile public health system.

The lack of workforce isn’t the only barrier being faced. Most public medical services are inaccessible to cases that are non-COVID-related due to these being packed with a lot of other patients. The cost of healthcare has increased during these trying times. It’s not new that those from the bottom endure long lines just for a chance to get medical services. Now, the chances are slimmer and the services are limited. People who have other non-COVID-related cases have expressed that they are at a higher disadvantage compared to before. An example is a cancer patient’s experience in getting therapy being more difficult for them. They have to endure the anxiety of getting infected when going to their check-ups and their own welfare at the same time. Some treatments just like this cannot be delayed to prevent the progression of cancer (Business Mirror. 2021).

 Any form of medical treatment isn’t cheap. During the pandemic, the cost grew higher. With a lot of people out of work, most are not even able to afford medical attention.

The whole healthcare system should be facilitated and organized with the coordination of its respective local government. This all boils down to how the government handles the situation. If the healthcare system of a country has always been poor, doesn’t that reflect how much the government actually cares for its health workers and people?

Is the blame supposed to be put onto the frontliners who work day and night? Or isn’t the government response responsible for the failure of the healthcare system?

Reference/s:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1955369/

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/07/07/hope-in-the-midst-of-covid/?fbclid=IwAR1dqWzC46kcHteJQIrFfkCMhG3bO3MZausvgt7Pd7-bQSPt4eF_YLBM5hA

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/comparing-six-health-care-systems-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR0rqqTevDa81ECpcSndpniI-QnlSw9mvl6et2Q5aihWAo7YioDQbkgdoU4

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A VISIONLESS RESPONSE

Written by: Kurt Ethan D. Benedicto & Danyael Matthew L.  Cacayan

              COVID-19, a virus that started back in December 2019 transformed into what dictates our state of living today. Protocols and projects were launched and the whole world was trying to find a solution to this problem. Each country had their own way of dealing with the pandemic, some effective and some not so, yet they were still trying to find a way. Health was the priority for these past few years. Yet even if that was the case, we had seen that the problem during this pandemic was not limited to the virus. Our healthcare access during this pandemic was severely lacking compared to other countries.

            The first suspected case of COVID-19 here in the Philippines was investigated way back in January 22, 2020 with 633 suspected cases reported as March of the same year came (Edrada, M. 2020). People were of course put in a state of panic as this global pandemic had reach our shores and was rapidly increasing in rate of infections. Panic buying for rations, supplies, and daily necessities were spread out in the early months and everyone was doing it, especially the rich and capable (Hilotin, J. 2020). This resulted in the people who are in poverty and those who are on the below-average side financially were left with almost nothing in a state of calamity. Instead of the considered proper way of helping out these people who cannot provide themselves especially during that time, the government instead put a military-focused response which was against those same people who needed help. Soldiers were sent out to patrol the whole country while it was put under a very strict and long lockdown. The people who were not able to get masks or do not have a home were punished as a “pasaway” when they could not even do anything to help themselves as panic buying prevented them to do so(Hapal, K. 2021). Compare it to South Korea where it was regarded as one of the best COVID-19 responses as it happened. They detected using innovative, high-capacity screening facilities; contained by investigating suspected cases; and treated with medical healthcare that was effective (Kim, J; Ah-Reum An, J; Oh, S.J; Oh, J; and Lee, JK. 2021) All these without ever needing a severe military presence to just silence those who were deemed “pasaway.”

             At the 24th of April 2020 The government ordered the lockdown to be extended up to the 15th of May 2020 (Merez, A. 2020). This move was made to stop the spread of COVID-19 even further which was fairly effective in its goal. But when the 15th of May rolled around the government eased its restrictions on travel in the country. Specifically for trade and the economy that was halted during the weeks of the lockdown to continue. This was done for businesses and in general the economy of the country. Since freezing an entire economy has many different ramifications such as supplies of different necessities having a shortage and many different small and large businesses losing money which in term caused many lay offs. But in this easing off restrictions was the high probable risk of the spread of COVID-19 increasing. This came true and in the months following the easing of restrictions the infection rate grew higher and higher each month. This happened likely because the restrictions were eased too early and too much. Unlike in the country of Singapore where their restrictions where much heavier but lead too a significant lowering of infection rates, sometimes having only 1-2 infections per day. This happened because Singapore has changed and adapted its testing and safe management procedures along the way.(Hean, T. 2021). Their response was thoroughly planned out and was constantly adapting to the current situation. These actions bore them fruit in terms of greatly reducing the impact of COVID-19 in their country. While the response in the Philippines in comparison we not as effective. Following the Increased infection rates in the months after the easing of restrictions the government tightened it up again in the months of August and September. But after a few months of these increased restrictions the government once again eased it following the up and coming holidays. Which caused another spike in infections. As this goes on Singapore maintained their strong restrictions but slowly and carefully easing them. The comparison shows that a more careful and a much more thought out plan of action would have been a much more effective strategy done in the Philippines.

            The COVID-19 pandemic was a shock to every country and everyone in the world in general. No one saw it coming but when it came the countries that had the supplies, equipment and the proper plan of action were able to fight the spread of the virus more effectively than of the ones that had no preparations. The Health of the country became a major priority to each country during the pandemic and the infection rates showed to us that some countries value and put more thought on the health of its citizens more than others. But throughout all this, a proper vision on how to tackle this crisis is still the most vital part in a country’s response . Which our country sorely lacked.

Reference/s:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7154063/

https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines/panic-buying-price-gouging-reported-in-manila-over-coronavirus-1.1583946282411

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1868103421994261

https://covid19.who.int/region/wpro/country/ph

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-exemplar-south-korea

https://www.pressreader.com/singapore/the-straits-times/20210706/281745567376550https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/24/20/duterte-extends-philippines-lockdown-until-may-15-changes-coverage

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Healthcare Access in the Midst of the Pandemic

CLAIM OF VALUE: Benedicto & Cacayan

CLAIM OF FACT: Borja & Calugay

CLAIM OF POLICY: Rodil & Usop