House panel OKs bill on access to critical drugs, vaccine in public health emergencies

Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan. (Photo from her Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — A committee in the House of Representatives approved Wednesday a bill seeking to address issues on access to critical drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials in times of public health emergencies.

During its meeting, the House committee on health approved the substitute bill to House Bill No. 6995 or the “Health Procurement and Stockpiling Act” principally authored by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, who also serves as the chairperson of the panel.

The bill creates the Health Procurement and Stockpiling Bureau under the Department of Health (DOH) which will serve as the principal agency mandated to undertake a transparent, fair, proactive, and innovative procurement service for the health department.

It will also be tasked to stockpile, conserve, and facilitate the release of adequate amounts of potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals, vaccines, devices, and materials in times of public health emergencies, said Tan.

Among the critical functions of the bureau include the following:

• identification of strategic and critical drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials needed for public health emergencies that have the distinct capability of being stockpiled in strategic and secure areas of the country;
• supplementation of drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials to state supplies acting as a stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of adequate amounts of drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials may not be immediately available;
• ensuring the rotation, replenishment, and freshness of stocks and that there exists at all times steady, available and adequate supply of drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials, which are essential in responding to public health emergencies;
• lead in facilitating the creation of a conducive environment to encourage pharmaceutical and device self-sufficiency for medical supplies needed by the country;
• spearhead the crafting of a multi-sector National Drug and Device Security Program geared towards the country’s self-reliance in producing drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to preposition critical and strategic pharmaceuticals and medical devices as well as the supply of raw materials. The country needs to be proactive in its response to public health emergencies,” Tan said.

The measure will now be brought to the plenary floor for further debates before it can be approved on second and third reading in the lower chamber.

JPV