DOH conducts internal probe over ‘anomalous’ P833-M med purchase

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health (DOH) formed an independent review committee to probe the allegedly anomalous procurement of pneumococcal vaccines in 2012 which involved health secretary Enrique Ona and Assistant secretary Enrique Tayag.

In a statement released Tuesday, Ona said that the department adheres to the Aquino administration’s “Daang Matuwid.”

“We assure the public of the DOH’s strict adherence to transparency, integrity, and honesty to all government transactions especially to the motto of “Daang Matuwid”. Our review committee will leave no stone unturned,” Ona said.

The health secretary explained that the first-time procurement of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) 10 in 2012 cost P833.6 million under the Expanded Vaccination Program of the DOH. The nationwide vaccination program is said to benefit 330,000 children.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona. AFP FILE PHOTO

Ona said that the PCV 10 vaccines which the department procured are cheaper over PCV 13 vaccines, which was recommended by the National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management (NCPAM), the Formulatory Executive Council (FEC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

“In 2012, the unit cost for PCV-10 was US$ 15.40, while that of PCV-13 was US$16.34, or a cost difference of almost $ 1.00,” the health secretary added.

Meanwhile, the health secretary lamented that the “usual medical discussion” on the two vaccines was marred with allegations of graft.

“It is in the appreciation of the ‘cost effectiveness’ of these two competing vaccines for Filipino children that usual medical discussion and differences is being presumed to have been tinged with “graft”,” Ona said.

The NCPAM, FEC, and WHO lodged a complaint before the Office of the President over the health department’s decision to purchase PCV 10 over PCV 13.

The complainants assailed DOH for choosing PCV 10 which has a “limited coverage” of diseases that could be treated.

The Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation are at the helm of the investigation on the alleged anomalous medicine purchase.

The vaccines were targeted for children afflicted with pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, among other pulmonary diseases.

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