Published — January 5, 2021
The following post does not create a lawyer-client relationship between Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices (or any of its lawyers) and the reader. It is still best for you to engage the services of your own lawyer to address your legal concerns, if any.
Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
Aside from notifiable diseases, read also: REQUIREMENT TO UNDERGO A MEDICAL EXAMINATION: A MANAGEMENT PREROGATIVE
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Disease refers to an illness due to a specific substance or exposure which affects an individual
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Notifiable disease refers to a disease that must be reported to public health authorities
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However, unauthorized disclosure of private and confidential information pertaining to patient’s medical condition or treatment is not allowed
Misinformation is a virus unto itself. – Brianna Keilar
Among the evident efforts of the government in protecting and promoting the right to health of the people and instilling health consciousness is the implementation of Republic Act No. 11332 or otherwise known as the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act” (RA 11332).
What is meant by disease?
The law says:
It refers to an illness due to a specific toxic substance, occupational exposure or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible individual, either directly or indirectly, as from an infected animal or person, or indirectly through an intermediate host, vector, or the environment. It becomes a notifiable disease when such disease, by legal requirements, must be reported to the public health authorities.
RA 11332 now makes it mandatory or obligatory to report the notifiable diseases to public health authorities.
Who are public authorities?
The law says:
Public health authorities refer to the DOH (specifically the Epidemiology Bureau, Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, Bureau of Quarantine and International Health Surveillance, Health Emergency Management Bureau, Food and Drug Administration, government hospitals, Research Institute of Tropical Medicine and other National Reference Laboratories, and DOH Regional Offices), the local health office (provincial, city or municipality), or any person directly authorized to act on behalf of the DOH or the local health office.
Who are required to do mandatory reporting?
The law says:
All public and private physicians, allied medical personnel, professional societies, hospitals, clinics, health facilities, laboratories, institutions, among others are required to accurately and immediately report notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern.
Notifiable diseases are classified into two Categories. Please refer to table below:
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CATEGORY I |
CATEGORY II |
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Acute Flaccid Paralysis |
Acute Bloody Diarrhea |
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Adverse Event Following Immunization |
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome |
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Anthrax |
Acute Hemorrhagic Fever Syndrome |
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COVID-19 |
Acute Viral Hepatitis |
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Hand-Foot-and Mouth Disease |
Bacterial Meningitis |
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Human Avian Influenza |
Cholera |
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Measles |
Dengue |
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Meningococcal Disease |
Diphtheria |
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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) |
Influenza-like Illness |
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Neonatal Tetanus |
Leptospirosis |
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Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning |
Malaria |
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Rabies |
Non-neonatal Tetanus |
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Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS |
Pertussis |
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Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever |
Category I above is considered as immediately notifiable, thus, should be reported within twenty-four hours (24 hours) from detection. Category II is viewed as weekly notifiable, thus, should be reported every Friday of the week.
Please note that even with the implementation of RA 11332 which deals with the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases, patients should be feel secured because any confidential information pertaining to their medical condition or treatment is protected under the Data Privacy Act and other laws of the Philippines.
Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices specializes in business law and labor law consulting. For inquiries, you may reach us at info@alburolaw.com, or dial us at (02)7745-4391/0917-5772207.
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