Former Health Secretary and now Congresswoman Janette Garin on Monday cited the need for the Department of Health to have a dedicated team of experts authorized to speak on public health issues, ensuring the information released is based on facts. This is crucial given the prevalence of fake news and misinformation.
Garin’s proposal that news and information outlets be wary of who they interview and for the DOH to have a team of doctors and specialists as spokespersons is a step in the right direction. This would help establish credibility and prevent the spread of misinformation.
Moreover, it is crucial the health agency address vaccine hesitancy head-on by educating the public about the benefits of vaccination. Those who demonize vaccines do not contribute positively to public health programs; they instead create mistrust and undermine efforts to protect Filipinos from preventable diseases.
According to medical experts, it is imperative that the broad Filipino public identify and hold accountable those who claim to be champions of public health but are, in reality, peddling fear and speculation. One such individual, allegedly, is Josiah Go, a self-proclaimed marketing expert who recently penned an article accusing doctors of practicing multi-level marketing through over-prescription.
Go had been asked to provide evidence and cite credible sources otherwise Go’s claims are nothing but baseless claims lacking medical basis and make him woefully unqualified to make such assertions.
By spreading unfounded allegations, Go creates a culture of fear and mistrust which can have devastating consequences for the healthcare system given that he is not a medical professional and yet makes sweeping statements without any concrete evidence to back them up, medical experts said.
For Josiah Go to blatantly frame any MD-owned institution as existing primarily for financial gain is an injustice to doctors around the country and a dangerous speculation, according to experts.
Experts said diagnostics, pharmacies, hospitals, and pharmaceuticals owned by MDs help those with medical needs around the country access the healthcare system and sometimes even provide a more affordable alternative to larger competitors.
Experts also said Go has also conveniently omitted the fact that the MD-owned pharma in question has competitive pricing, with reputable doctors nationwide backing the brand. It is hoped the omission of these facts was not motivated to create a false narrative in favor of an ulterior agenda, the experts said.
It also worries the experts that Go motives are not entirely altruistic. His alleged ties to a pharmaceutical firm with business interests in conflict with another local company raise serious questions about his true agenda.
The experts urge Congresswoman Janet Garin to invite Go to a hearing on proposed legislation aimed at holding accountable those who spread misinformation and create fear. His alleged inability to provide credible evidence for his claims is a red flag signaling he is part of the very problem he purports to address.
We must confront this kind of fear-mongering and demand transparency from those who claim to represent our interests. The public deserves better than speculation and hearsay; they deserve evidence-based information from qualified professionals who understand the complexities of healthcare. Let us expose the charlatans and hold them accountable for their actions, the experts said.
