Ex-NTF adviser says PH's 'weakest link' is health care system
The weakest link of the Philippines is its health care system, said public health expert and former National Task Force (NTF) against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) special adviser Dr. Anthony “Tony” Leachon on Saturday, Feb. 5.
“For the longest time... ang health care system natin kasi, ‘yan ang weakest link natin kaya tayo nagkaroon ng pandemya at naging very obvious ‘yan during the pandemic na hindi tayo naka-respond (For the longest time, the health care system is our weakest link that is why we had the pandemic. It became very obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic that we were not able to respond immediately),” said Leachon in an interview over DZRH.
Leachon then reiterated that a good health care system paves the way for economic recovery. Citing Bloomberg’s data, he said that the “formula” in dealing with COVID-19 remains anchored in vaccinations and testings.
“Kapag napaganda mo ang health, susunod n’yan ang economic recovery. Kapag hindi mo na-contain ang virus by testings ay patuloy pa rin ‘yan kahit magbakuna ka. Ang nakalagay sa Bloomberg, pababain ang positivity rate, pataasin ang vaccination rate, pataasin ang booster, decrease the severity lockdown equals economic recovery (When we improve our health, economic recovery follows. If we do not contain the virus by testings, it wil continue even if we get vaccinated. According to Bloomberg, we need to lower the positivity rate, increase the vaccination rate, increase the booster, and decrease the severity of lockdown. These lead to economic recovery) ,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the same interview, Leachon said that the presidential candidates for the 2022 elections were able to present their public health agenda during interviews and forums, but it still needs to be elaborated.
“Ang gusto ko sanang marinig ay ‘yung timeline nila, kasi a goal without a timeline is a dream (What I would like to hear is their timeline, because a goal without a timeline is a dream),” he added.
According to Leachon, among the health care plans discussed by the presidential candidates were the establishment of regional hospitals, the improvement of health workers’ benefits, revitalization of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), but he reiterated that the country needs a pandemic exit plan the most.
“If I had to focus right now on the big problems of the country, ay syempre sa health care system. Sana naitanong kung anong COVID-19 exit plan ng bawat presidential aspirants, papaano ic-carry out , at in their first 100 days paano nila i-e-end ang pandemic? (If I had to focus right now on the big problems of the country, it would of course be on the health care system. We could have asked each presidential candidate about their COVID-19 exit plan, how they are going to carry out this plan, and in their first 100 days how will they end the pandemic?),” said Leachon.