The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Monday (Aug. 3) refuted a statement of President Duterte's after he scolded healthcare workers for allegedly "calling for a revolution."

In its latest statement, PCP praised Duterte for heeding their plea to place Mega Manila on a stricter level of lockdown to give reprieve to "tireless" healthcare workers and to assure that the highest standard of care needed for moderate to critically ill patients is met.

However, the medical community said they were "taken aback and surprised" when the president highlighted in his address that the health workforce is "indispensable but not irreplaceable."

"We beg your indulgence and allow us to rectify this impression. If you closely review the virtual conference of August 1, there was never a call for a revolt nor was there any threat of leaving patients on their own since our oath instructs us to first do no harm to anyone who needs our help," PCP stressed.

"By training and our reserved nature, the likes of us are not used to giving out demands or ultimatums, but if our requests and observations were taken as an assertive display of indignation, we apologize for the way the message was taken in a negative light," it added.
On Sunday, Presidente Duterte railed against the doctors who raised the alarms about the situation of the country's health system, daring them to "declare a revolution."     

PCP reiterated that it was not their intention in the media forum to "humiliate the administration and the IATF (inter-agency task force)," noting that their call was for the Department of Health (DOH) and the IATF to provide the healthcare workers a "fighting chance in the war against COVID" and to prevent unnecessary fatalities.

DOH, IATF's failure to answer PCP's letter

PCP said that it sent a letter to DOH in April, requesting a reservation for test kits for healthcare workers who have been instructed to go on duty on a two-week rotation. However, their request has been "left unanswered."

"In letter, we highlighted the importance of having healthy and COVID-free caregivers so we can allay anxiety and boost the morale of the frontliners when they face uncertainty, and this can only be made possible if they are tested periodically," it also said.

"These valid requests, if they were guaranteed early on, would have made our harrowing experiences bearable, but for some unexplained reason, it was left unheeded by the IATF and the DOH," PCP added.

It underscored that the medical community has been supportive of the government, adding that PCP formed a partnership with DOH in disseminating educational materials to both the medical field and the community and has worked with local government units and members of the IATF since the beginning of their COVID-19 prevention campaign.

Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite Rizal, and Cavite have been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 4 to August 18.