DOH faces scrutiny over delayed COVID-19 case disclosures

Health Secretary Duque stated on Wednesday that 'problems' in the DOH's reporting system caused delays in disclosing new COVID-19 cases.

Duque assured lawmakers there was no intention to hide information and emphasized the need for transparency within legal limits.

The NPC urged the government to protect patient confidentiality, noting that revealing personal information could discourage testing and cause distress.

NPC Commissioner Liboro stressed the importance of balancing privacy with public health interests, warning against unnecessary disclosure of patient identities.

Panelo disagreed with lawmakers' criticism, stating that underreporting is impossible if results are not yet available, highlighting the time-consuming nature of contact tracing.