Nalzaro: Sacrificing quality results for speed

Nalzaro: Sacrificing quality results for speed

THIS is a continuation of my column last Saturday, May 16,2020, about the plan of the mayors of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, the Office of the Presidential Assistant of the Visayas (Opav) and the Department of Health (DOH) 7 to continue the rapid mass testing for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). SunStar Cebu reported on May 17, 2020, that the three cities would continue to conduct their mass rapid diagnostic testing (RDT).

Cebu City and Mandaue City are still under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) as the two cities are considered “high risk,” while Lapu-Lapu City and the rest of the province are under general community quarantine (GCQ).

Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of DOH 7, said the low turnout prompted them to recommend the extension of the activity to achieve the target population. The mass testing was supposed to end last Friday, May 15,202. As of May 16, 2020, Loreche said the tri-cities had 64.32 per cent accomplishment.

Mandaue City had the highest accomplishment, testing 11,561 residents out of 11,632 or 99.39 per cent. Lapu-Lapu City tested 7,732 residents out of 10, 477 or 73.8 per cent, while Cebu City tested 6,205 residents out of 17,536 or 35.38 per cent. As of May 15, 14,555 blood samples were tested using the RDT with 315, or 22 per cent, subject for confirmation test using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

There are reasons for the low turnout. First, lack of information and education. Second, on the reliability and accuracy of the test; and third, because the psychological and emotional effects, such as depression, that the patient may suffer. Most of the people tend to ignore their ailments than knowing it and suffer the stigma and anxiety later.

I have no units in medicine during college and I am not pretending to be knowledgeable in the field of medicine, but I have read several articles about this rapid mass testing. Like this, which I lifted from the American advisory Board: “We sacrificed quality for speed. Why rapid anti-body test may not be the key to reopening? Policy makers and US health officials are looking to expand anti-body testing for the new coronavirus as a way to provide key data that could allow them to reopen businesses and ease social distancing measures, but some experts warn that many of the tests are unregulated and often produce unreliable results.

“Multiple states and some businesses over the past few weeks have started to roll out mass anti-body testing for the coronavirus as part of their strategies for determining whether it is safe to allow essential employees to work, reopen non-essential businesses and ease social distancing measures intended to curb the virus spread.

“Are antibody tests reliable? Health experts are raising concerns about the testing rollouts, noting that a vast majority of the tests currently available in the US has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Further, experts say early data suggests some of the tests are highly unreliable and some instances, providers may be using tests inappropriately.”

Again, may I reiterate these nagging questions: How much did the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu spend for the testing kits? Cebu City spent P40 million for the 50,000 kits at P800 per kit. Who negotiated it and who was the supplier? How much did each city pay to this private laboratory that conducted the analysis per patient? And who are the owners of this private laboratory? Basin naay nangumisyon ninyo (Maybe someone’s getting commission)? This is what we said that “in every crisis, there is an opportunity.” Tubaga palihug (Answer, please).

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