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Discrepancies in Covid-19 data reporting: Besieged health system blamed for ‘stats’ imbroglio  

21 Aug 2021

  • Cases manifold, number of overwhelmed workers as is: Dr. Herath   
  • ‘Not new situ when collecting routine/spl data on epidemics’ 
  • Acknowledges discrepancies reported from various parts 
 BY Yoshitha Perera   The health system is overwhelmed with the present surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, and that is the main reason for the discrepancies in Covid-19-related data, Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Sunday Morning.   During the course of this year, the number of cases has increased by a thousand-fold compared to the same period last year, yet the total number of health workers has not changed, Dr. Herath noted.  He added that while, within the course of the last few weeks, there had been many confirmed reports of data-related discrepancies, this is not a new situation when a country is reporting data related to an epidemic outbreak.   “This has been taking place even before Covid-19. Whenever there is routine data collection, as well as special data collection related to an epidemic outbreak, initially, we get discrepancies, and as health sector officials, we address the issue then and there.”   Explaining further, Dr. Herath pointed out that when such discrepancies are detected, the Epidemiology Unit contacts the relevant health authorities and attempts to ascertain what has gone wrong in order to rectify the situation.   He further said: “In the same manner, we contacted the relevant officials and had discussions with them in order to correct the Covid-19 dashboard.”  He also noted that these discrepancies are reported not only within Gampaha and surrounding places, but that there were certain differences in the data reported from other parts of the country as well. “We continuously monitor these situations and try to correct them as and when they occur. The ground situation is such that the health workers are overwhelmed, as the number of cases that need to be handled by field health workers is extremely high.”   Stating that the Health Ministry had a special meeting on Friday (20) to discuss the situation with regard to the reporting of data on Covid-19, Dr. Herath pointed out that the Ministry officials had decided that whenever there is a problem with regard to data, the officials would discuss and correct the said dashboard.   He also said: “We are not trying to punish anyone or blame anyone, but we have to identify where it went wrong and then correct the national dashboard related to Covid-19 data.”  The accuracy of Covid-19 data came into question when it was reported on 10 August that 8,826 Covid-19 patients in the Gampaha District were not included in the country's Covid-19 statistics. This came to light after the Gampaha District Covid-19 Prevention Committee announced that between 1 and 9 August, the district had 12,555 Covid-19 cases. An officer attached to the Gampaha District health services also noted that only 4,046 patients were receiving treatment at Covid-19 treatment centres while 1,506 patients were undergoing home-based quarantine. According to these statistics, 7,003 patients in the community were without any access to medical treatment.   However, data shared by the Government Information Department indicated that only 3,729 Covid-19 patients were reported from the Gampaha District during the same time frame.  Inaccuracies in Covid-19 data were also reported from the Eastern Province.   Sharing some recent statistics, Eastern Provincial Director of Health Services Dr. A.R.M. Thowfeek pointed out that five Covid-19 deaths and 837 Covid-19 patients were detected from the area on 10 August. The breakdown includes 342 patients from Batticaloa, 227 from Ampara, 105 from Kalmunai, and 163 from Trincomalee.   However, according to the statistics shared by the Government Information Department, only 45 patients from Batticaloa, 78 from Ampara and Kalmunai, and 71 patients from Trincomalee were reported. 


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