RP needs at least P90M to prepare for H1N1 virus - DOH

(Updated 1:15 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) needs at least P90 million to prepare the Philippines against the possible outbreak of the H1N1 virus ("swine" flu) that is suspected to have killed 168 people in Mexico alone, Health officials said Friday. In a press conference of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) at Camp Aguinaldo, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he has instructed the department’s health emergency and management office to come up with a "comprehensive budgetary requirement" that will detail what the government will need using low, medium, and high projections of the virus’ possible impact on the country. "We’re readying ourselves in the event that cases will occur, and of course that is the importance of having low, medium, and high protection," Duque said. Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the immediate major expenses include additional procurement of anti-viral drug oseltamivir, including doses for children; purchase of personal protective equipment such as masks; expenses for field operations and support services; and funds for "critical" hospitals that could accommodate patients that might be stricken with the disease. "Immediately we need at least P90 million for this preparatory, preparedness phase for this particular issue," Villaverde said. The P90 million already includes the P10 million initially allotted for the purchase of oseltamivir, he added. According to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, the funds will be sourced from the calamity funds of the NDCC. Teodoro chairs the NDCC. The H1N1 virus is suspected to have killed 168 people in Mexico, with 12 confirmed dead from the virus. A 23-month-old boy in Texas in the United States was also confirmed to have died from the disease. No doomsday scenario, please Despite the figures abroad, Duque said it would not be good to dwell on "doomsday scenarios" that might only cause panic among the public. "It might not be good to dwell on doomsday scenarios because it might even contribute to the epidemic of misinformation," Duque said, adding that misinformation could be more "disastrous" than the actual disease. Duque assured that the DOH and the NDCC are doing their best to prevent the virus from coming into the country, beginning from thermal scanning at six international airports that would detect anyone who has a fever. If someone coming into the Philippines is found to have a fever, he or she will be immediately isolated and evaluated to verify possible infection. The "index of suspicion" is increased if the person is proven to have come from any of the affected countries, Duque said. If the person is found to be a carrier of the virus, he or she will immediately be transferred to hospitals that could accommodate those stricken with the disease, he said. Dr. Eric Tayag of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, said there are now five hospitals that could accommodate such patients: the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, the Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu, and the Davao Medical Center in Davao. Meanwhile, those coming from abroad who do not have a fever during their entry into the Philippines should quarantine themselves and "self-monitor" for 10 days, Tayag said. The person should then immediately report to the DOH (hotlines include 711-1001) if a fever develops within that period. Teodoro expressed confidence that the DOH will be able to handle the situation, noting that the agency "dealt successfully" with health hazard outbreaks in previous years such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), avian flu, and the ebola virus. 'Crisis manager' To coordinate the government's efforts in dealing with the outbreak, Duque has been designated as the "crisis manager" and the acting chairman of the NDCC, Teodoro said. "All member agencies will be subject to the DOH authority in dealing with the crisis. It also helps us in the NDCC very much because the public has to remember that we are also responding to other situations such as relief in disasters, the IDP situation in Mindanao and so forth and so on. In this way there shall be a coordinated single voice in dealing with the situation now and should it occur in the future," Teodoro said. For his part, Trade Secretary Peter Favila said the DTI would help with spreading public advisories regarding the virus. Favila said one major call center has agreed to provide support for faster updates on developments in the situation. - GMANews.TV