THE Department of Health (DOH) Davao Region warned the public against disclosing the identities of patients positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
DOH-Davao Center for Health Development's issued a statement on Saturday, April 4, 2020, following the alleged list of Covid-19 positive people circulating online who are for contact tracing.
“The events and circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 Health Event have brought so much panic and anxiety due to unverified news circulating in different media outlays and social media platforms. DOH-Davao Center for Health Development strictly upholds its ethical responsibility to the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality of their information,” the DOH-Davao statement read.
DOH-Davao clarified that they did not release the names nor any information of the alleged Covid-19 positive people who are subjected to contact tracing.
The health department is now coordinating with local authorities to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for publicizing their identities which is against the law.
“DOH, together with the Intelligence Community, has started the investigation and is now tracking the people behind the release of the alleged Covi-19 positive people. Person/s found guilty will be dealt with accordingly and be penalized to the fullest extent of the law,” DOH-Davao warned.
There has been a clamor from the public to reveal the names of infected patients to fast-track contact tracing.
DOH has reminded the public on the unauthorized sharing of confidential information of Covid-19 patients which is punishable under the Republic Act 11332 or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Concern Act".
RA 11332 prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of private and confidential information pertaining to a patient's medical condition or treatment.
Any person or entity found to have violated Section 9 of this act shall be penalized with a fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the proper court.