IN JULY 2015, my son and I were confined for dengue, and I was very surprised to find out how debilitating the disease is. Since dengue was always in the news, I had the impression it was just high fever. I was in for a rude awakening since it took me more than a week to recover, and I swore then never to underestimate the effects of any illness again.
And that is why I read with sadness and anger the stand of some members of the medical community questioning the dengue vaccination program of the Department of Health. By doing so, they are accusing the DOH technical working group (TWG) of not doing due diligence in evaluating the vaccine. They are also imputing malice and negligence to the institution.
The program was announced early this year and the implementation in the schools was all set. If they had concerns with the vaccine, why were these not raised earlier during the clinical trials and the TWG meetings? Surely, these lofty members of the academe and preeminent medical societies would not have any issues with access to the health secretary and the DOH staff.
I do not question their right to demand answers. I question the manner and timing of their protest which is meant to cast doubt on the wisdom of the program and the safety of the vaccine. They have questioned the decision to spend P3.5 billion on the dengue vaccination program and yet, in the same breath, decry the DOH for the lack of preventive health programs. They also asked the DOH to wait for the recommendation of the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, which is expected to come out in a matter of weeks. They ask, why hurry? Well, my question is, why wait?
As one who feels very passionately about health, I cannot just stand around and allow experts to have the monopoly of views because they have the technical expertise and the airtime. Patients need to have a voice and this needs to be made stronger. And this is exactly what I have chosen to do
after two decades of working in the pharmaceutical industry.
I am writing as a volunteer for the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations and we are working hard to strengthen the patient groups in the hope that we, too, will be given a chance to engage policymakers through an inclusive and participatory process.
—KAREN ALPARCE-VILLANUEVA, karenidavillanueva@gmail.com