'Act with urgency', Lacson urges DOH, FDA
Published Mar 25, 2020 12:00 am
By Mario Casayuran
"With a population of 107 million, the worst is yet to come unless the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) act with urgency,’’ Senator Panfilo Lacson warned Wednesday.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Observing that the enhanced community quarantine measures or lockdown are obviously working as “we can see it ourselves from the windows of our own houses,” Lacson cautioned that “is not enough to flatten the COVID-19 curve.” He pointed out that South Korea has reported to have flattened the curve through mass testing, not lockdown. He observed the apparent inability of the Department of Health (DOH) to be more flexible. "Hundreds of thousands of rapid test kits for donation by some local businessmen and procured from South Korea and China - already in use in those jurisdictions, having been certified by their regulatory agencies - have already arrived at least over a week ago. Yet, a big volume is still being held by Customs. Why?’’ he asked. He said that according to President Duterte, there should be no red tape in dealing with the epidemic. "Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - an agency under the DOH - still refuses to issue even a provisional accreditation, which is needed so those test kits can be distributed for use particularly by those who have symptoms or those who have had direct contact with infected persons, even on a "do-it-yourself" basis, so they can immediately practice self-isolation should they test positive. In turn, this can prevent or at least minimize the spread of the virus,’’ he said. "That, instead of overly restrictive regulations imposed by our DOH, will certainly help obviate a possibly uncontrollable spread of the COVID-19,’’ he added. As of last Monday, March 23, while Congress was deliberating on the just-signed Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, only approximately 1,500 Filipinos had been tested, Lacson said. He proposed an amendment - which is now Section 4 (j) of Republic Act Number 11469, the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. "This aims to ensure that donation, acceptance and distribution of health products intended to address the COVID-19 public health emergency are not unnecessarily delayed and that health products for donation duly certified by the regulatory agency or their accredited third party from countries with established regulation shall automatically be cleared; provided, that this shall not apply to health products which do not require a certification or clearance from (FDA),’’ he explained.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Observing that the enhanced community quarantine measures or lockdown are obviously working as “we can see it ourselves from the windows of our own houses,” Lacson cautioned that “is not enough to flatten the COVID-19 curve.” He pointed out that South Korea has reported to have flattened the curve through mass testing, not lockdown. He observed the apparent inability of the Department of Health (DOH) to be more flexible. "Hundreds of thousands of rapid test kits for donation by some local businessmen and procured from South Korea and China - already in use in those jurisdictions, having been certified by their regulatory agencies - have already arrived at least over a week ago. Yet, a big volume is still being held by Customs. Why?’’ he asked. He said that according to President Duterte, there should be no red tape in dealing with the epidemic. "Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - an agency under the DOH - still refuses to issue even a provisional accreditation, which is needed so those test kits can be distributed for use particularly by those who have symptoms or those who have had direct contact with infected persons, even on a "do-it-yourself" basis, so they can immediately practice self-isolation should they test positive. In turn, this can prevent or at least minimize the spread of the virus,’’ he said. "That, instead of overly restrictive regulations imposed by our DOH, will certainly help obviate a possibly uncontrollable spread of the COVID-19,’’ he added. As of last Monday, March 23, while Congress was deliberating on the just-signed Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, only approximately 1,500 Filipinos had been tested, Lacson said. He proposed an amendment - which is now Section 4 (j) of Republic Act Number 11469, the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. "This aims to ensure that donation, acceptance and distribution of health products intended to address the COVID-19 public health emergency are not unnecessarily delayed and that health products for donation duly certified by the regulatory agency or their accredited third party from countries with established regulation shall automatically be cleared; provided, that this shall not apply to health products which do not require a certification or clearance from (FDA),’’ he explained.