Philippine Medical Association open to working with presidential adviser after spat

After a recent spat with Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. "Joey" Concepcion III, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said it is now open to working with the private sector's Project ARK on the use of rapid test kits to screen possible infections of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, PMA president Dr. Jose Santiago said the group is now willing to collaborate with Project ARK — led by Go Negosyo which was founded by Concepcion.

"We’re not declaring war to anybody, we’re declaring war to the invisible enemy. We should be one in our mission and objective to defeat COVID-19," Santiago was quoted as saying in a statement released by Project ARK.

"Conversation, not confrontation; collaboration not competition. We cannot afford another lockdown or second wave of infection," he added.

Santiago and the PMA earlier condemned remarks made by Concepcion who negated a medical group's position against the use of rapid test kits considering the high possibility of false results.

"Itong mga grupo na ito, ingay nang ingay wala namang ginagawa. So anong gagawin ng buong private sector? Magla-lockdown tayo ulit?" Concepcion said last month, referring to the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID).

Concepcion has since apologized for his words, but clarified that he was only referring to a certain group and it should not be taken as a general statement against doctors.

"We know where Joey Concepcion is coming from, we also have to understand that the health of the economy is very critical now," said Santiago.

"We cannot win this war if we are divided, we have to stay united with one another. Together we save lives, together we save the economy," he added.

Moving forward, Concepcion opened the door for a possible collaboration through a joint project with the PMA.

“If we work together, that will be a potent force. Maybe we can have a joint project between Go Negosyo ARK and PMA on a webinar where we invite all the doctors, medical groups and associations, and the private sector to come together and discuss a vision on how we collaborate more. Share information, and bring inputs from the various sectors," he said.

"The pressure has been mounting since these very unfortunate times happened," he added. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG, GMA News