DOH: We have funds to deal with emerging COVID variants

Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday that it has enough funds to respond against the new variants of COVID-19.

According to DOH Undersecretary Achilles Bravo, the DOH has a surplus of funds with which it can accommodate purchases for responses against the COVID-19 FLiRT variant.

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“So what we will do is that we have so many funds at the DOH, even from the CONAP (Continuing Appropriations) in 2023 and the current. If there’s a need to provide something for the emerging COVID variant, we can always make some modifications within our budget,” Bravo said at a House Committee hearing.

READ: DOH: PH still at low risk for COVID-19 despite ‘FliRT’ variants

“Right now we are collating the savings of the DOH which we have and which we can use,” he added.

House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin likewise said that vaccines should be available as a treatment not just for the new variant, but for other common diseases that are still contagious as well.

“The preparation should go back to either vaccination if an updated version is available, but more importantly pneumonia, flu vaccines and the medicines for whoever will need it,” Garin said.

Meanwhile, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that the DOH is still studying the Kp2 and Kp3 variants of the virus.

“We have money and the headline is wrong in saying that there is no money for vaccines because to begin with, we still do not know what are the Kp2 and Kp3 variants,” Domingo said.