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Duque stays mum on PhilHealth crisis
By Fernan Angeles HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque has remained mum over a public clamor wanting to see the entire Philippine Health Insurance Corporation executive board to go on leave. Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire confirmed that Duque has yet to take any position on the call for PhilHealth officials to consider going on “vacation” amid ongoing investigations…
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Price cap for face shields
By Fernan Angeles IN an apparent effort to ensure that every Filipino would be able to buy and comply on the mandatory use of face shields, the Department of Health has imposed a retail price ceiling for the highly-in-demand protective gadget. Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said that face shields should not be priced higher than…
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Rapid test not advisable for initial COVID-19 screening
By John Clifford Lintao THE Department of Health (DOH) hinted at dropping the use of rapid antibody testing for screening people for COVID-19. However, the DOH is not bent on proposing a total ban on it as it can still be used for recovering COVID-19 patients. It added that the rapid antibody testing should just…
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Avigan trial for Filipinos to start on Aug. 10
By John Clifford Lintao CLINICAL trials of the Japanese anti-viral flu drug Avigan among Filipino COVID-19 patients will start on Monday, Aug. 10, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. Vergeire hinted on an all-set-up plan for the trial following the arrival of 199,000 Avigan tablets from Japan for the trials. “We have identified site na…
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DOH tracing 37 individuals per one Covid-19 patient
By Fernan Angeles FOR the duration of two weeks that Metro Manila and adjoining regions are under modified enhanced community quarantine, the Department of Health (DOH) will trace 37 individuals who have been in contact with a COVID-19 patient. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire hinted on the improved contact-tracing effort as an effective strategy reflective…