DOH disputes pandemic response ranking via decreasing caseload

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Screengrab from PCOO

MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to a study in which the Philippines ranked last among 53 nations in terms of COVID-19 response and resilience, its pandemic response has improved as shown in the global rankings of the World Health Organization (WHO). Health Secretary Francisco Duque III cited the rankings in the WHO’s global dashboard rankings as of Nov. 1, which shows that the country is faring better with a decline in cases.

In a meeting with President Duterte on Tuesday night, Duque compared the country’s present rankings to its rankings from Sept. 6 to Sept. 12, which was the peak of the rise in COVID-19 infections.

Back then, the country placed 15th globally in terms of number of active cases, and third in Southeast Asia.

The WHO global dashboard ranks nations in terms of the number of active cases, COVID-19 cases and deaths per million population, and the case fatality rate.

As of Nov. 1, the Philippines is at 40th place globally and fourth in the Southeast Asian region in terms of active infections, an improvement from its ranking in September.

“Now, our ranking is better and our active cases is lower than that of Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia,” Duque said. Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia ranked 21st, 25th and 24th place, respectively, in terms of active cases.

As for COVID-19 cases per million population, the Philippines is at 134th place globally and fifth in Southeast Asia as of Nov. 1. The country used to be at 130th place globally and second in the region in September.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that the Philippines was still “the worst place to be” amid the pandemic, as the country ranked last among 53 nations in terms of response and resiliency.

The Department of Health (DOH) dismissed the findings as comparing apples to oranges, saying each country has its own context.