Sunday, October 15, 2006 Dad explains ordinance on list of patients with contagious diseases By Jane Cadalig
A MEMBER of the La Trinidad Municipal Council clarified that the proposed ordinance requiring all private medical practitioners to report cases of communicable diseases recorded in their respective facilities is not meant to destroy the confidentiality of private records.
Councilor Jim Botiwey, one of the proponents of the ordinance, said the legislative body merely wants the actual number of patients diagnosed or treated for transmittable disease to guide them in coming up with appropriate measures to address the problem.
The council passed on first reading a proposal to require all medical practitioners to report cases of communicable diseases treated in their respective health facilities to the Municipal Health Office for proper recording.
The measure defines communicable diseases as those declared or considered by the Department of Health (DOH) to be notifiable, reportable or dangerous to public health.
Botiwey said the ordinance is not pressing the private clinics or hospitals to disclose the names of their patients, except if the disease needs tracking like meningococcemia.
"Our only concern in passing the measure is to get the number of individuals affected with transmittable diseases for us to be guided on what interventions we could do to control the spread of the ailment and to give medical attention to persons affected," the alderman said.
He added that proper coordination of both the pubic and private health sectors on transmittable diseases would enhance immediate intervention to prevent the possible widespread of ailments.
The alderman made the clarification amid apprehensions from some private medical practitioners that the proposal might violate the confidentiality of their records.
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