Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday demanded accountability from the leadership of the Department of Health over errors in its handling of data of COVID-19 patients.
Lacson said there is no room for incompetence – or corruption – in the fight against COVID-19, which involves people’s lives and livelihoods.
“Whether inadvertently committed or otherwise, it is reason enough to make people responsible and accountable. What is abominable is if such act is committed deliberately in pursuit of some selfish reasons or interests,” he said.
He added data accuracy is key to correct and sound decision-making, which he said is a logical and simple tenet in management.
On Tuesday, the UP Resilience Institute disclosed still-unaddressed issues in the DOH’s data reporting, along with mismatches with data from local government units.
It also cited “alarming” errors in patient-level data including gender, age and location – with at least one patient who reportedly died April 24 being reported as alive the next day.
“The COVID-19 pandemic involves people’s lives, and to a large extent, their livelihoods. That said, there is no room for officials who, because of sheer incompetence or corrupt thinking, will endanger our lives that we practically entrust to them,” Lacson pointed out.
On the other hand, he noted this is not the first time the DOH leadership has been challenged to prove itself – or quit.
Earlier, the Senate passed a resolution calling for the resignation of DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III for his “failure of leadership” that led to lapses in the DOH’s handling of the COVID-19 situation. Duque had since apologized and vowed to do better.
“This is not the first time that the DOH leadership is being challenged to prove itself – or leave their posts if they cannot be up to the job,” Lacson noted.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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