Global COVID-19 Vaccine Inequality

May 27, 2022

Chronically ailing PH public health system under Duterte

April 7, 2022

FEATURES

Duterte has not taken significant measures that will strengthen the public health system and make health services accessible and equitable to the Filipino people.

Duterte administration’s shift to MECQ meaningless without urgent COVID-19 steps

August 20, 2021

The government has announced the easing of community quarantines. But new cases are still rising and there are no signs of government taking additional measures to fix the health system during the last two weeks of stricter lockdowns. If the health system is as weak as ever, what’s our way out of the pandemic?

Helped Filipinos? Too few helped, too little given

July 25, 2021

The people’s and nation’s needs amid a public health emergency and economic crisis are huge, but government help stayed stingy while spending big on infrastructure, the military and debt-servicing.

The TRIPS waiver on Covid-19 pharmaceuticals and the Big Pharma

June 2, 2021

There is a raging debate about whether or not the WTO should temporarily waive some intellectual property rights of Covid-19 pharmaceuticals. Developed countries oppose the proposal, but recently the US has announced its limited support, while the EU continues to wrangle over its necessity. For proponents, the waiver would speed up and scale up vaccine production and contribute to a faster vaccination process in poorer countries.

Greater Manila ECQ/MECQ shallow without aggressive COVID response – IBON

May 5, 2021

Repeated quarantines to slow the spread of COVID-19 will be futile if it is not coupled with sufficient health and economic measures so that citizens can return to work safely, have more purchasing power, and spur economic activity.

Mass vaccination PH: Throwing away our shots (Part Two)

April 15, 2021

The Philippines is not expected to be ahead of the vaccine race being a poor, non-industrial and import-dependent country. But despite our underdevelopment, we still deserve better and more efficient government handling of our predicament.

Mass vaccination PH: Throwing away our shots (Part One)

April 15, 2021

A number of Asian countries are seeing an increase in COVID with surges particularly large in South Asia and, in Southeast Asia, the Philippines. The Duterte administration has been telling us since last year that the arrival of vaccines is its ultimate solution but, dismally, these are coming in trickles.

Late rollout, slow vaccination

April 7, 2021

The number of COVID cases in the country has surpassed 800,000 and is projected to reach 1 million by end-April. Yet vaccine rollout remains slow and chaotic.