The current debate is about having an HONEST AND CRITICAL APPRAISAL of what went wrong with the PH pandemic response.
Sadly, the discourse is hampered not only by the refusal to admit that there IS SOMETHING WRONG, but also by the vociferous defense of it!
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Jul 7, 2021 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
I hated the PLE. I still do.
I cannot accept that a decade of studying all boils down to a single exam. Who would NOT BE STRESSED by that?!
At best, the PLE only measures a fraction of how much we learned or know.
But the process is as outdated as the questions are random.
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I mean, 100 questions covering an entire subject you took five years prior IS NOT an adequate measure of how much we know.
Worse, the questions do not always reflect the fundamentals required of each subject.
TBH, a great deal of testmanship is needed.
So how is this FAIR?
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May 5, 2021 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Sana bago ka sumagot nang ganito @jvejercito inaral mo muna yung kaso at yung sistema ng Philhealth.
You are obviously speaking above your head so let me clarify how you got it all wrong. 1/
If you just bothered to find out before dishing out your response, you would have known that cases such as this actually happens quite frequently.
While PhilHealth has different case rates for different severities of COVID-19, these depend on WHERE the patient is confined. 2/
Apr 10, 2021 • 7 tweets • 1 min read
Mahalaga na maalala natin ang mga basic details ng Philippine Pandemic Response para mabalikan at masuri natin BAKIT at PAANO tayo umabot sa ganitong KAWAWANG kalagayan.
Eto ang isng short QUIZ to refresh our memory.
Ilan ang makukuha ninyo na TAMA?
1. Sino ang pangunahing namumuno sa COVID-19 Pandemic Response sa bansa?
a) IATF
b) NTF-ELCAC
c) OCTA
d) Hindi pa rin alam hanggang ngayon pero malamang hindi si Duque
Apr 5, 2021 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
This interview is very telling of why govt is ALWAYS BEHIND the pandemic and why we are LOSING this fight.
Not because the virus is spreading faster, but because govt INSISTS on its flawed and myopic approach to the disease.
Transmission WAS NEVER controlled. Resurgence was bound to happen sooner or later.
The newer variants may have aggravated the current resurgence but the real culprit is govt UNPREPAREDNESS.
A year later, govt still relies on healthcare utilization as its main metric. Mali. 2/
Jan 2, 2021 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
Health officials should stop hiding behind the law to impose its unjustifiable increased contribution rates.
PhilHealth is allegedly forced to require higher payments from members as this is a provision of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
Totoo ba ito? NO.
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True, increased PhilHealth rates are part of the UHC Law. In fact, it is one of the controversial provisions that oppositors wanted to remove or change.
But even if the increased rates are part of the law, is govt really forced to implement it? NO.
Are there precedents? YES.
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Oct 5, 2020 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the reason why the Philippine healthcare system is so bad: its two leading agencies - the Department of Health and PhilHealth - are SH*T.
A thread on how these two agencies cannot even do their jobs properly and continue to fail Filipinos. 1/
DOH's incompetence is obvious in its (mis)handling of COVID-19 data.
Failing to provide timely reliable data, it resorted to arbitrary terminologies like "fresh" cases, window dressing its website, and now, "mass recovery" every Sunday.
The 50k+ validation backlog is proof. 2/
Sep 7, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
IATF's Galvez and Dizon both declare that PH is "flattening the curve".
"Govt efforts are effective. People should follow quarantine rules and minimum health standards."
Meron pa bang govt official na hindi nagsabi niyan simula Abril?!
Is this what they should be saying?! 1/
They should tell us WHERE WE ARE in terms of govt's overall plans and strategy.
Why is govt still determining the status of community quarantine every two weeks?!
What targets have been met and what have been missed?
Hindi pwedeng puro declaration, tapos babawiin later. 2/
Sep 5, 2020 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
The Du30 government is MALTREATING our nurses during this time of pandemic.
This is WRONG and should STOP.
A thread. 1/
The Nursing Act of 2002 states that entry level nurses (Nurse 1) in govt should receive a salary at least salary grade (SG) 15.
Since 2002, govt, thru the Dept of Budget and Management (DBM), REFUSED to implement this.
The nurses insisted and struggled.
The DOH did nothing. 2/
Aug 16, 2020 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
Historically, PhilHealth has always been poorly regulated and monitored. Its leaders allowed it to be used for furthering partisan political interests.
No wonder corruption became entrenched. If this is to be seriously rooted out, we have to look further back.
A thread.
In 2004, Arroyo used PhilHealth in the presidential elections.
PhilHealth IDs were produced and mass distributed to the poor. The ID had TWO pictures of Arroyo (front and back).
Membership spiked that year but only for a year.
Pagkatapos ng eleksyon, wala na ulit. 2/
Aug 7, 2020 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
To relax my mind and avoid an impending Irene+Seulgi addiction, I followed @Probotype's advice.
I also dedicate this to @jedmarcueto, my adopted kid and Kpop guardian.
For a few hours last night, my daughter once again schooled me on Kpop music.
I will NEVER be the same again.
(G)I-DLE
Anak: Comeback vid nila eto.
Me: Bakit, nawala ba sila nang matagal?
Anak: Hindi.
Me: Nagbreak-up ba sila tapos nagkabalikan?
Anak: Di din.
Me: Eh bakit sila my comeback?!
1. Health workers are exhausted and they sorely need a break. 2. The proposed solution is to revert back to ECQ (or impose more stringent restrictions on movement).
Both are important but should be addressed separately. 1/
HWs are tired. Their patient load continues to increase but their own numbers are decreasing. Many are getting sick themselves.
Their morale is low because gov't has let them down. They can't get the protection and benefits they deserve.
They need time to rest, to breathe. 2/
Jul 19, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
We are NOT doing better.
Our people are getting sick. Our health workers are bearing the burden. Our health system is straining.
But govt is still singing a different tune.
We need to debunk the lies and expose the false narratives of the Du30 govt re PH COVID-19 response. 1/
"We were unprepared for this." - Usec Vergeire
It's been almost 6 months after the first COVID case in PH. Unpreparedness is no longer a valid excuse.
You were late. You were overconfident. You had no sense of urgency. You still don't.
Taga-bilang na lang ba ang DOH, Usec? 2/
Jul 10, 2020 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
The recent Cebu fiasco reveals much about the level of (un)preparedness vs COVID-19 in PH, esp by the DOH.
We should learn from it ASAP if we want to stave off an impending disaster here in NCR and in other COVID hotspots. 1/
In terms of health capacity, Cebu is neither underserved nor resource poor. It has several big tertiary hospitals as well as medical and health sciences schools.
Yet in less than two weeks, the system was overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases.
This is not due to "mga pasaway" alone. 2/
Jun 2, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
One wonders the motive behind the sudden "change of heart" by the PMA, given that there has not been any significant change in the quality of antibody rapid test kits. 1/
Philippine Medical Association now supports antibody rapid test kits | Inquirer News newsinfo.inquirer.net/1284497/philip…
PMA: "I would like to say not all antibody test [kits] are created equal."
YES, some kits are worse than others. There are no new qualitative improvements in the rapid tests, which begs the question:
What is the PMA getting out of this?
The conflict of interest is palpable. 2/
May 24, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
There are thousands and thousands of doctors here and globally who recognize and practice different types of medicine, not just Western med.
This is because each type of healing has its own strengths and limitations, and using a compendium of approaches allows for better care.1/
Pasma exists. So does usog, kulam, and bangungot. Patients will consult for these and we should not just dismiss them. Medical anthropology clarifies these.
Western medicine and science has no monopoly on health and healing. Acupuncture predates both by several centuries.2/
Apr 24, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Contradictions in the current handling of the COVID-19 crisis in PH.
Or why we are royally screwed.
A thread.
1/
Quarantine is a public health measure but instead of health personnel being in command, it is the military, police, and former generals.
No wonder there are 2x more people arrested than people tested.
And the tendency is the to arrest and/or shoot rather than to save lives.
2/
Apr 2, 2020 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
Some considerations on the issue of the enhanced community quarantine aka the lockdown.
A thread.
1. The lockdown was arbitrarily imposed without any clear set of criteria as basis and without clear objectives.
This is important because whether or not the objectives were met should be the basis for saying it succeeded.
Hindi yung pagbaba ng crime rate ang batayan. 1/
Mar 27, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Sa tindi ng pangangailangan ngayon, sa bigat ng banta ng epidemya at sa laki ng pera na ilalabas,
gusto nyo ay VOLUNTEERS na health workers na bibigyan ng 500 pesos daily allowance?!
INSULTO yan, hindi respeto.
Hindi talaga seryoso ang gobyernong ito sa paglaban sa COVID-19.
Ang panawagan nga ng taumbayan para sa mga daily wage earners ay 750 pesos per day, tapos ang ibibigay sa mga health workers ay mas mababa pa?
Kailangan natin ng dagdag health workers na haharap sa panganib, dahil kumokonti sila habang dumadami ang pasyente.
Kailangan sila!
Mar 26, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
That every politician who ascended thru affluence have flaunted their entitlement is not new.
Displaying their privilege and arrogance amid public suffering is also not new.
But even callousness and people's polite civility have limits.
Yesterday, a senator breached both. 1/
He cannot feign ignorance or stupidity, as he is a lawyer and bar topnotcher.
He cannot say that his presence is essential because his baby will be delivered with or without him.
And after being tested, he actually still attended parties!
In short, he really did not care. 2/
Mar 17, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Kulang sa kits? Swedish model?
How to debunk the erroneous narratives being dished out by govt apologists and paid trolls.
A thread.
1/1. Kulang daw sa kits kahit sa ibang bansa.
Sa totoo, kulang tayo ng kits kasi the govt failed to act early and decisively.
Nung pumutok yung COVID at may confirmed cases na dito, hindi mabilis na kumilos ang govt.
Todo tanggi pa nga ang DOH na "weak health system" tayo.
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