Policy Brief/Note of Philippine Health Issues: Human Rights Violations Committed on Healthcare Workers

Authors: Trina Isabel D. Santiago, Daniel C. Chua, Jumee F. Tayaban, Joseph Daniel S. Timbol, Joshua M. Yanes

Abstract:

Numerous instances of human rights violations on healthcare workers have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. This paper aims to explore these civil and political rights violations and propose recommendations to address these. Our review shows that a wide range of civic and political human rights violations have been committed by individual citizens and government agencies on individual healthcare workers and health worker groups. These violations include discrimination, red-tagging, evictions, illegal arrests, and acts of violence ranging from chemical attacks to homicide. If left unchecked, these issues, compounded by the pandemic, may lead to the exacerbations of the pre-existing problems of the Philippine healthcare system. Despite all pre-existing reports by human rights groups and public media articles, there still seems to be a lack of government action to condemn and prevent these violations. The existence of government agencies which directly contribute to these violations with the lack of condemnation from other agencies further propagate the problem. Given these issues, this policy brief recommends the establishment of an interagency task force for the protection of human rights of healthcare workers as well as the expedited passing of current legislative bills towards the same goal. For more immediate action, we call for the establishment of a dedicated hotline for these incidents with adequate appointment and training of point persons, construction of clear guidelines, and closer collaboration between government agencies in being united against these issues.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers, human rights violations, Philippines.

References:

[1] Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2021 country reports on human rights practices - United States Department of State (Internet). U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State; 2022 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/
[2] Human Rights Watch. World Report 2022: Rights trends in Philippines (Internet). Human Rights Watch. 2022 (cited 2022 Jun 23). Available from: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/philippines
[3] Eala MA, Maslog EA, Robredo JP, Pedro RJ, Medina PV, De la Paz EP, et al. Violence against health-care workers in the Philippines. The Lancet. 2022;399(10340):2012–3.
[4] Front Line Defenders. Civil and Political Rights (Internet). Front Line Defenders. 2017 (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/right/civil-political-rights#:~:text=Civil%20and%20political%20rights%20are,state%20without%20discrimination%20or%20repression.
[5] Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, General Assembly of the United Nations. (Internet). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966. Available from: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights
[6] J Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. (Internet). Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines Department of Health; Apr 6, 2020. Available from: https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health-update/Revised-IATF-Resolution-No.-21.pdf
[7] World Health Organization. Preventing violence against health workers (Internet). World Health Organization. World Health Organization; (cited 2022Jun25). Available from: https://www.who.int/activities/preventing-violence-against-health-workers
[8] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Communist insurgency in the Philippines: Tactics and talks - Philippines (Internet). ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; 2011 (cited 2022Jun25). Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/communist-insurgency-philippines-tactics-and-talks
[9] VERA Files. Vera files fact sheet: Why 'red-tagging' is dangerous (Internet). VERA Files. 2018 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-sheet-why-red-tagging-dangerous
[10] Karapatan. (Internet). 2020 Karapatan Year-End Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines: Epidemic of state terror and the people’s resistance. Karapatan Alliance Philippines Inc.; 2021 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://app.box.com/s/kgkrovqiv66ekx04s6y3jpj645ln5a9u
[11] Commission on Human Rights. Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the arrest of Health Worker dr. Natividad 'Naty' Castro (Internet). Commission on Human Rights. 2022 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-the-commission-on-human-rights-on-the-arrest-of-health-worker-dr-natividad-naty-castro-2/
[12] Lalu GP. Red-tagged doctor, husband, shot dead in Negros Oriental (Internet). INQUIRER.net. 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1372145/red-tagged-doctor-husband-shot-dead-in-negros-oriental
[13] Masculino G, Recuenco A. Guihulngan City Health Officer, husband shot dead in Negros Oriental (Internet). Manila Bulletin. 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/16/guihulngan-city-health-officer-husband-shot-dead-in-negros-oriental/
[14] Locus S. Health Group seeks revocation of Badoy's license over alleged red-tagging (Internet). GMA News Online. GMA News Online; 2022 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/828175/health-group-seeks-revocation-of-badoy-s-license-over-alleged-red-tagging/story/
[15] Magsambol B. Health Workers want Badoy's physician license revoked (Internet). RAPPLER. 2022 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/health-workers-want-lorraine-badoy-physician-license-revoked/
[16] Pingel J, Reese N, Werning R, Dalang R, Sotres E, Erwig F, et al. OBSERVER: A Journal on threatened Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines. International Peace Observers Network. 2014Apr;6(1):1–31.
[17] Cabalza D. Makati probes case of nurse evicted over COVID-19 (Internet). INQUIRER.net. 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1319693/makati-probes-case-of-nurse-evicted-over-covid-19
[18] Burgos NP. Discrimination Hits Health Workers of Iloilo Hospital treating COVID-19 patient (Internet). INQUIRER.net. 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246537/discrimination-hits-health-workers-of-iloilo-hospital-treating-covid-19-patient
[19] Fernandez E. Tacurong Hospital execs condemn bleach attack on front-liner (Internet). Philippine News Agency. Philippine News Agency; 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1098146
[20] Rubrico JGU. COVID-19 and the discrimination of medical personnel in the Philippines (Internet). ISPI. 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.ispionline.it/en/pubblicazione/covid-19-and-discrimination-medical-personnel-philippines-25725
[21] Patag KJ. Ambulance driver shot over suspicion of ferrying COVID-19 patients (Internet). Philstar.com. Philstar.com; 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/04/03/2005296/ambulance-driver-shot-over-suspicion-ferrying-covid-19-patients
[22] Gallardo F. Gunmen kill prominent Cagayan de Oro Physician (Internet). RAPPLER. 2021 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/gunmen-kill-cagayan-de-oro-physician-december-2021/
[23] Fernandez E. Nocot mayor, physicians condemn doctor's murder (Internet). Philippine News Agency. Philippine News Agency; 2021 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1148142
[24] Cimatu F. Former Abra mayoral candidate shot dead at home (Internet). RAPPLER. 2021 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/dait-former-abra-mayoral-candidate-shot-dead-home/
[25] Commission on Human Rights Region-VIII. Advisory on the protection of frontline health workers, uniformed personnel and other service providers against discrimination (Internet). CHR. 2020 (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://chr.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CHR-VIII-Human-Rights-Advisory-on-the-Protection-of-Frontline-Health-Workers-Uniformed-Personnel-and-Other-Service-Provided-Against-Discrimination.pdf
[26] Ong Ki CN. CHR to investigate acts of Violence Against Health Workers (Internet). Manila Bulletin. 2020 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://mb.com.ph/2020/04/01/chr-to-investigate-acts-of-violence-against-health-workers/
[27] Aguilar K. DOH to hold accountable those behind Health Workers' discrimination (Internet). INQUIRER.net. 2021 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1425917/doh-to-hold-accountable-those-behind-health-workers-discrimination
[28] Alliance of Filipino Workers. Case Study - Republic of the Philippines (Internet). Alliance of Filipino Workers; (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://pop-umbrella.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/default/files/documents/research/en_case_study_republic_of_the_philippines.pdf?key=
[29] UP Population Institute. Human resource for health in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic: Does the Philippines have enough? (Internet). UP Population Institute. 2021 (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://www.uppi.upd.edu.ph/research/covid-19/rb8
[30] UP Media and Public Relations Office. Estimating local healthcare capacity to deal with covid-19 case surge: Analysis and recommendations (Internet). University of the Philippines. 2020 (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://up.edu.ph/estimating-local-healthcare-capacity-to-deal-with-covid-19-case-surge-analysis-and-recommendations/
[31] Department of Health. (Internet). Ensure adequacy, quality, and equitable distribution of human resources for health in the country Aug, 2008. Available from: https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/Vol2Issue4August2008.pdf
[32] Banaag MS, Dayrit MM, Mendoza RU. Health inequity in the Philippines. New Frontiers in Regional Science: Asian Perspectives. 2019; 163–74.
[33] Alibudbud R. When the "heroes" "don't feel cared for": The migration and resignation of Philippine nurses amidst the covid-19 pandemic (Internet). JOGH. 2022 (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://jogh.org/2022/jogh-12-03011
[34] World Health Organization. Philippines coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report #85, 13 September 2021 - Philippines (Internet). ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; 2021 (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-situation-report-85-13-september-2021
[35] World Health Organization. A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma associated with COVID-19 (Internet). World Health Organization. World Health Organization; 2020 (cited 2022Jun22). Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/a-guide-to-preventing-and-addressing-social-stigma-associated-with-covid-19
[36] Department of Health. DOH supports Health Workers' call for better COVID-19 response at all levels: Department of Health Website (Internet). 2021 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/DOH-SUPPORTS-HEALTH-WORKERS-CALL-FOR-BETTER-COVID-19-RESPONSE-AT-ALL-LEVELS
[37] Gavilan J. Groups Slam 'dangerous' red-tagging of health workers (Internet). RAPPLER. 2019 (cited 2022Jun23). Available from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/227930-groups-slam-red-tagging-harassment-health-workers/
[38] Office of the President, Medialdea S, Duterte RR. Executive Order No. 70 - Institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creating a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, and directing the adoption of a national peace framework 2018.