UNDER THE MICROSCOPE The Philippines erupted in joyous celebration after Carlos Edriel Yulo clinched two Olympic Gold Medals in gymnastics in Paris. The government and private companies showered him with cash, houses and lots, condominium and all sorts of lifetime privileges. Business and product...
UNDER THE MICRSCOPE Though my wife and I lived in the United States of America for six years in the 80s, we never took any interest in American elections. Back then, the Republican and Democratic Parties were like Tweedledum and Tweedledee, interchangeable and not really much different from each...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Hardly had I sent my column to press two weeks ago (Hemodialysis and PhilHealth July 9, 2024) when news broke out on the transfer of a whopping ₱90 billion of “surplus funds” from PhilHealth to the National Treasury. This was purportedly to finance the additional ₱450...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE As a pathologist and laboratory science practitioner, I am often approached by friends, relatives and even recent acquaintances about their laboratory results. But even though I know laboratory science, it doesn’t mean I’m in the best position to interpret and explain...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0014 on the Institutionalization of 156 Hemodialysis (HD) sessions and Coverage Expansion issued on July 1, 2024, also effective same date, mandates that all chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients can avail of HD at any government or...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Usually it’s the car buyers who have to be on the alert, especially with used cars, so they don’t end up with a bad buy. There is so much to watch out for: Cars that were in bad accidents and were poorly repaired, poorly maintained cars in general, bad engine condition,...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Senate Bill 2675 has been filed by Senator Lito Lapid which will mandate food service establishments to disclose caloric and nutritional information in their menus. According to the explanatory notes, “Nutrient content information provided at the time of food selection in...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE “Medice, curate ipsum” comes from the Bible, Luke 4:23: “Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, ‘Physician heal thyself’; whatsoever we have done in Capernaum, do also in thy country.” This column will not be very popular among my fellow doctors. But please...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE It’s summer, and we are going to see outbreaks of food – and water-borne diseases, one of which is cholera. Cholera is an acute gastroenteritis caused by Vibrio cholerae, which causes profuse watery diarrhea. Without adequate fluid replacement, acute and severe dehydration...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Travelling is a great way to seek new sights, tastes, experiences and insights. Thus, the itch is always there, tugging at your heartstrings to look for the novel, strange, fascinating and beautiful. Hence, along with two veteran travelers, I tagged along hoping for such. It...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Recently, a friend sent me a news item in which a doctor was referred to as a “public health expert,” which sent him into a paroxysm of anger. He pointed out that the guy was not one, and he was right. Indeed, some local media practitioners are guilty of lack of...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Last Monday, March 25, 2024, was the launching of the PeerLinc Knowledge Hub, (Peer-to-peer Learning for Innovative Cures for TB), a project of the TB Alliance which has identified the Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF) to host the project in the Philippines. Attending as...
