DOH exploring law exemptions for COVID-19 vaccine procurement

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is exploring  the possibility of giving “special exemptions” in the country’s procurement law in the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

Under the country’s procurement law, the Philippine government cannot pay until the items are already delivered and received, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday.

However, many drug manufacturers are requiring advance payments for the procurement of their COVID-19 vaccine.

“We have sought the assistance of the Office of the President para magkaroon ng mas malinaw na direksyon kung pwedeng magkaroon ng special na exemption from this provision of the law that we cannot pay until the orders are here,” she said in an online media forum.

(We have sought the assistance of the OP for us to have a clearer direction whether we can have a special exemption to the provision of the law that we cannot pay until the orders are here.)

“So pinag-uusapan ‘yan ngayon at ginagawan ng pag-aaral kung maaari magkaroon ng special exemption because of this pandemic,” she added.

(That is being discussed and being studied whether there can be a special exemption because of the pandemic.)

The Philippine government is in talks with 17 drugmakers from 10 countries for access for their COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier revealed.

The country is likewise part of the COVAX Facility which is  a mechanism designed to guarantee rapid, fair, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.

Galvez said the Philippine government is eyeing to buy at least 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from different countries developing the vaccine.

This will be given to 25 million Filipinos in 2021, he added.

EDV