Nothing wrong with ‘cost-sharing’ of vaccines procured by private sector, says Palace

A tricycle driver receives his first Moderna shot during a vaccination drive held at Camarin D Elementary School in Caloocan City. PHOTO COURTESY OF CALOOCAN PIO

MANILA, Philippines — The government allows “cost-sharing” or “cost reimbursement” of COVID-19 vaccines bought by private companies for their employees’ dependents as long as these will be sold not for profit, Malacañang made clear Tuesday.

“Lilinawin ko lang po. Marami po ang nagtatanong. Ano ba ang polisiya ng gobyerno pagdating dito sa mga kumpanya na nag-angkat ng mga bakuna — libre sa mga empleyado pero merong cost reimbursement para sa mga pamilya ng kanilang empleyado?” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a vaccination event in Pampanga.

(I will just clear this up because many people are asking. What is the government’s policy when it comes to companies who ordered vaccines—free for their employees but there is cost reimbursement for families of their employees?)

“Ang polisiya po ng gobyerno, unang una, basta inorder po yan para doon sa mga taong nag-order at hindi makakarating sa ibang mga tao, hindi ibebenta sa ibang tao at pangalawa, reimbursement for cost po yan at walang profit,” he explained.

(The government policy is first, as long as it was ordered for the persons intended and it won’t go to other people, it won’t be sold to other people and second, it’s reimbursement for cost and there is no profit.)

Roque further noted that private companies can only procure vaccines through a tripartite agreement with the national government.

“Hindi po issue yung cost sharing na sinisingil ng ilang mga kumpanya provided inorder po talaga yan at hindi makakarating sa ibang tao,” he said.

(There is no issue with the cost sharing asked by companies provided it was ordered and it won’t go to other people.)

Various private companies have begun their vaccination program for employees after jabs they procured arrived in the country.

Earlier, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. launched its vaccination program after 500,000 Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses it procured arrived.

Some 99,600 doses of Moderna bought by the private sector led by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. also arrived last month alongside 155,000 doses bought by the national government.

EDV