The various levels of quarantine that continue to be enforced in different parts of the country are meant to isolate people who are infected and thereby minimize or control the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2. Obviously, isolation and quarantine should go hand in hand with testing. Otherwise one would not know who is capable of transmitting the infection and who should be isolated from whom. But testing has been scarce and inequitably distributed. The onset of testing in the country immediately showcased one source of inequity as government officials jumped the queue and had their swabs processed ahead of everybody else. Mostly asymptomatic government officials and their family members were tested even when healthcare institutions could not yet provide testing kits for many symptomatic and suspected patients.85 Concepcion, P. (2020, March 23). Gov’t Officials Crowd out Patients for COVID‐19 Testing. Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246714/govt‐officials‐crowd‐out‐patients‐for‐covid‐19‐testing
Meanwhile, a 34‐year‐old cardiology fellow died from the virus, amidst reports that his COVID‐19 test result came only after he died.86 Pasion, P. (2020, March 28). Last updated 2020, March 28. ‘Doki’ to the Barrios: Dr. Israel Bactol’s Commitment to Serve. Rappler. Retrieved April 29, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/move‐ph/256145‐israel‐bactol‐doki‐doctor‐to‐the‐barrios
, 87 Arias, J. (2020, March 23). #NoToVIPTesting: on Politicians Abusing their Power to Get COVID‐19 Tests. Preen.ph. Retrieved April 29, 2020, from https://preen.ph/107493/vip‐testing‐politicians‐covid19‐philippines
Timely test results could significantly help in patient management, and possibly save lives. Of course, it is the rich who can more easily afford to pay for tests if they choose to. Power and wealth have been influential and if the situation is allowed to prevail we cannot hope to achieve the equitable allocation of healthcare resources that is a necessary condition for pandemic preparedness. Meanwhile, the insufficiency of testing kits is being manifested in the prevalence of online selling of kits unauthorized by the Food and Drug Administration.88 Magsino, D. (2020, March 13). FDA Warns Public Vs. Unregistered COVID‐19 Test Kits in Philippines. GMA News Online. Retrieved July 2, 2020, from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/729568/fda‐warns‐public‐vs‐unregistered‐covid‐19‐test‐kits‐in‐philippines/story/