Balancing Public Health and Autonomy: Ethical Challenges in Manila's Health Permit Requirement

This perspective article examines the ethical implications of Manila City Ordinance No. 8793, also known as the "Sanitation and Disinfection Code of Manila." This ordinance mandates centralizing health screenings through the Manila Health Department for all city employees working in government and private institutions. While the ordinance aims to centralize public health measures to enhance disease control in the city, it raises concerns regarding individual autonomy in relation to public health. In this article, I will highlight how the ordinance's stringent requirements potentially infringe individual autonomy and, worst of all, disproportionately affect low-income workers. To do this, I will explore the possible tension between public health and the principle of autonomy in enacting this ordinance. This article hopes to contribute to the broader discourse on public health ethics, particularly in contexts where policies set to attain their goals might unintentionally infringe on individual autonomy and exacerbate existing equality.