Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda checking facilities at the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital with acting provincial health officer Dr. Jay Rivera. File photo from Pampanga PIO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga passed an ordinance prohibiting any act of discrimination against Covid-19 positive patients, persons under investigation (PUI) and persons under monitoring (PUM), health workers, and frontliners.
Gov. Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda approved Ordinance No. 757, series of 2020, declaring that the province’s response to Covid-19 “is anchored on principle of human rights, upholding human dignity, and that the right to health includes the right to have access to information and services free from violence, harassment and discrimination.”
“The Covid-19 patients, PUI, PUM, health workers and other frontliners are presently experiencing discrimination and stigma because of the perceived danger they pose in spreading the virus,” the governor said.
Based on the ordinance, it is the policy of the Province of Pampanga to respect, protect and promote the human rights and welfare of persons confirmed to be positive for Covid-19, PUI, PUM, health workers, and frontliners.
Hence, with the ordinance, the said individuals will be protected against any act of discrimination, harassment, violence, bullying that causes stigma, shame, indignity, dishonor and humiliation or harm.
The provincial board revealed that the discriminatory acts defined in the ordinance include “Restriction on travel and habitation; Restriction on shelter and forced ejectment; Restriction from employment and unequal benefits; Forcible layoff or early retirement; Expulsion or refusal of admission in learning institutions; Banning and eviction in business establishments and Denial of burial services.”
“To reduce stigma, the ordinance prohibits unauthorized disclosure of confidential information of Covid-19 patients, PUI and PUM status,” it said.
The disclosure is authorized when made pursuant to Republic Act No. 11332 or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and when made pursuant to a lawful court order and all other disclosures are unauthorized.
Media Disclosure
The ordinance made clear that it is unlawful for any person or entity to disclose on any form of mass media, including, but not limited to print, broadcast, radio, television, or social media, the name, image, address or any information that would identify persons confirmed to be positive for Covid-19, PUI, or PUM including any information that could directly ascertain their identification.
The provincial board explained that media disclosure shall be allowed if the person subject of the information gives prior consent; provided further, that this provision shall not cover reports from the government specifying the general location of persons confirmed to be positive with Covid-19.
Penalties
Under the ordinance, those who discriminate against COVID-19 patients, PUI, PUM, health workers and frontliners and those who violate confidentiality as provided under the ordinance will pay a fine of up to P5,000 and face jail time of not more exceeding oneyear without prejudice to the filing of an action to suspend or revoke his or her professional license in the appropriate administrative proceeding. — Joel P. Mapiles/Pampanga PIO
