Gov’t starts procurement of ventilators worth P1.3B

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. Screengrab from DOH Facebook account

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has requested the purchase of additional ventilators worth P1.3 billion to be used in the treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the health department has already submitted the request to purchase more mechanical ventilators to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management.

“Sa ngayon po, ito ay kanilang ginagawan ng market study upang masiguro na competitive at cost-effective ang ating proposal at ‘yung mapo-procure nating mga units,” Vergeire said in an online press briefing Monday.

(To date, they are conducting a market study to ensure that the proposal to procure is competitive and the units cost-effective.)

Ventilators are crucial for COVID-19 patients who are in critical condition as these will help them breathe when their lungs fail while fighting the infectious respiratory disease.

In the same press briefing, Vergeire reported 200 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country’s total to 6,459, of whom, 613 recovered while 428 died.

Edited by JPV