Presidential adviser’s remark vs doctors ‘uncalled for’, ‘demeaning’ – PMA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) on Thursday slammed as “uncalled for and outrightly demeaning” the remarks of presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion III against doctors on the issue of the use of COVID-19 rapid test kits for returning workers.

Concepcion earlier berated doctors for complaining too much but not doing enough against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this in defending the use of rapid test kits for employees in the private sector.

Several doctors and medical society groups have thumbed down the use of rapid antibody tests for employees who are returning to their jobs, saying it only creates a “false sense of security.”

PMA president Jose Santiago Jr. has invited Concepcion to tour COVID-19 referral hospitals to see what the doctors and frontliners are doing against the pandemic.

Presidential adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion. Image grabbed from PCOO video

“It is totally uncalled for and outrightly demeaning to the very people who have labored to address this unseen enemy, SARS-CoV2 or the COVID-19 disease,” he said in a statement.

“We invite the good gentleman to a guided tour of the medical facilities, especially COVID-19 referral hospitals para makita niya ang ginagawa ng mga doctors at frontliners,” Santiago added.

He added that the PMA does not release materials without due study and research and every pronouncement they make is carefully vetted by experts in the field.

“We are not purveyors of fake news. If the good gentleman is unable to present indisputable data that rapid antibody test is the correct modality for testing, why resort to such sweeping statement?” the PMA official said.

“There is more to the science of clinical and epidemiological testing than ranting ignominiously,” Santiago added.

Concepcion has since apologized for his remarks, adding that he has “nothing but the utmost gratitude and admiration for the doctors and frontliners who continue to do a great service for our country during this crisis.”

“I apologize if my words were perceived to criticize doctors in general. I hope we will be united in our efforts. With this, I extend my deepest thanks to all frontliners that continue to go beyond the call of duty for our people. We can and we will heal as one,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.