FOR PROTECTION OF PATIENTS, DOCTORS

THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) wants the 14 provincial government hospitals in Pangasinan to include and consider the result of antigen rapid test as the provincial health workers guide in managing cases.

The resolution proposed by Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario took note of the fact that results of the RT-PCR test, which is the gold standard, are released after a few days, while the results of the antigen test can be had within minutes.

Rosario said this was the observation of many doctors who pointed out that since antigen test results are known within minutes, the management of the cases can be done earlier, especially in critical cases.

Asked by Second District Board Member Von Mark Mendoza whether the use of antigen test will run counter to the guidelines issued by the national IATF on the use of RT-PCR test, Rosario said most private hospitals as well as some rural health units are already doing antigen tests on patients who need to be treated immediately.

He added that since the result of the antigen test can tell immediately if a patient is suspected to be infected with the COVID-19 virus, doctors are immediately advised to wear personal protective equipment for their protection as well as also the patient’s.

Rosario pointed out that the use of antigen test is now being adopted widely in the world, adding that the antigen test and its use is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration and there is nothing to lose if his resolution is approved because it does not prescribe mandatory use but merely an option to hasten the management of patients brought to the hospital due to other issues other than COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the SP approved another resolution authored by Board Member Rosario asking the national IATF to consider giving Pangasinan PNP personnel frontliners assigned in border control checkpoints and other offices as priority in the ongoing vaccination rollout.

P/Lt. Colonel Luis Ventura, deputy police provincial director, said the PNP is in a quandary whether they are going to be vaccinated soon being frontliners and providing vital functions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the country’s population.

Currently being vaccinated are the Priority A-1 category (front line health workers), A-2 (senior citizens) and A-3 (persons with co-morbidities. Pangasinan has not started the vaccination of those under the Priority A-4 category (workers in essential sector).

Ventura also requested the help of the SP for the repair and construction of temporary quarters of PNP men assigned in the border control points to replace the tents that offer them little protection from the rains. (Leonardo Micua)

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