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Wednesday, April 02, 2003
Health office monitors 23 for possible Sars
MANILA -- Twenty-three people are being observed and treated in government hospitals for possible cases of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), which senators say the country does not have the capability to fight or contain.
All 23 recently returned from Hong Kong, China or Singapore, areas with confirmed cases of Sars, Celine Garfin, a member of a special health department task force, said Tuesday.
The 23 have shown symptoms of pneumonia and diagnostic tests are being undertaken, she added.
At the Senate, at least two senators said the Department of Health (DOH) does not have the necessary funds to fight the mystery illness since it can only spare 50 centavos per person for all diseases faced by the country's citizens.
Most of the suspected cases of Sars in the country are being treated in hospitals in Manila. There are also at least five cases in the north and one case in the central island of Cebu.
Health officials say they have yet to find a single case of confirmed infection by the Sars virus but Manila is asking people who recently returned from areas with Sars infections to voluntarily quarantine themselves for seven days just to be sure.
The mysterious illness has now infected some 1,700 people in 15 countries and killed at least 62 people. It erupted in southern China, spread to Hong Kong and has been taken worldwide by airline passengers.
Health budget
If it relies on its P9.9 billion budget, the health department will not be able to counter the effect of Sars in the country, said Senators Ralph Recto and Joker Arroyo.
Arroyo, chair of the committee on public services, said this translates to only 50 centavos per day for each of the estimated 70 million Filipinos for one year.
"And this 50 centavos is also the fund used to counter other sicknesses that we have now," he pointed out.
Recto, however, said not all is lost for the government. Recto who is chair of the ways and means committee said should an outbreak erupt in the country, the DOH could always request additional funds from the Office of the President.
Recto said some P1.5 billion under the Office of the President could be tapped for counter-measures. "There is the P700 million calamity fund and another P800 million contingency fund where the DOH could source money from," he said.
Arroyo agreed. He said that is the most likely scenario in case of a Sars outbreak in the country.
Health authorities of Hong Kong have quarantined off a middle class tenement after the virus causing Sars downed at least 107 victims there in three days.
Despite the dim prospect, the Philippine health department remained steadfast in the belief that the country is Sars-free. Joshua Dancel/With AFP |
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