COVID-19 patients’ information to be disclosed only to DOH, other gov’t agencies, not to public – IATF

April 13, 2020

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases clarified on Monday that mandatory disclosure of information involving coronavirus disease patients would be made only to the Department of Health and other concerned government agencies and not to the public.

IATF Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the government has to make a balance between the right to privacy and the right to ensure public health.

"We are not telling to the patient to disclose to the public; we are telling to the patient to disclose to DOH all accurate and honest information," he said in a virtual press briefing, noting that the Health department is the "repository and safe keeper" of all the information.

He said the information to be gathered would be used in contact tracing of those people who have exposure with COVID-19 patients.

"But the DOH, in the context of contact tracing, may ask LGUs (local government units) and law enforcement agencies to help in contact tracing and to do that, DOH must necessarily share the information with these enforcers but all mindful of the provisions under the Data Privacy Act," he explained.

Nograles said the IATF has tasked the DOH to come up with the guidelines on how to ensure that the information that would be collected would still be protected.

He said that currently there is a public health emergency.

"We are under state of national calamity. We need disclosure of accurate, correct and honest data and information," Nograles said.

"So, it’s a delicate balancing act that is an ongoing discussion in the IATF and DOH is supposed to come up with the—has been tasked to come up with the guidelines towards that," he added.

Under Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, a patient suspected of having COVID-19 should disclose all the information necessary.

He said any person who would give false information would be penalized as provided in the law.

During the early days of the crisis, several healthcare workers have been placed under quarantine, while others contracted COVID-19, after some of the patients did not reveal all the information regarding their ailment, including their travel history.

The IATF earlier approved mandatory disclosure of information of COVID-19 patients for effective contact tracing. Celerina Monte/DMS