Nograles to DOH: Use 2018 budget to cover fund for Dengvaxia patients

The Department of Health (DOH) should tap into its existing budget to begin the profiling and monitoring the 900,000 Dengvaxia vaccinees, House appropriations chairperson Rep. Karlo Nograles said on Thursday.

Nograles issued the advice after the Senate failed to pass on final reading the P1.161 billion supplemental budget for Dengvaxia patients due to lack of quorum early Thursday.

READ: Senate fails to pass proposed budget for Dengvaxia patients due to lack of quorum

Nograles said that while he is sad that unforeseen circumstances led to the failure of the Senate to approve the supplemental budget “it is imperative that the government continue providing assistance to the victims.”

“I’m calling on the DOH to use their 2018 budget to assist our Dengvaxia victims even as we anticipate the Senate’s approval of the supplemental budget when session resumes on July 23. We should not wait for another two months before the DOH takes action,” Nograles said in a statement.

“It is quite unfortunate that the Senate was not able to pass the Dengvaxia victims assistance budget but we all have to move on and make do with what we have at present. I know that the Senate Majority bloc led by Senate President Tito Sotto did their best in pushing for its approval but there are things that are beyond their control,” he added.

Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 7449 which would allocate some P1.161 Billion in additional funds for the DOH to assist Dengvaxia vaccinees.

READ: House OKs on final reading P1.16-B budget for Dengavaxia patients

Even though he acknowledged that the existing 2018 funds of DOH may not be enough to cover all the 900,000 Dengvaxia vaccinees, Nograles said the health department could at least start the profiling and monitoring of patients.

He said the DOH could also tap existing funds not specifically allotted to Dengvaxia assistance.

“The DOH can use the funds that they have in the medical assistance program under their 2018 budget to pay for the hospitalization and medical needs of the victims,” he said.

“We cannot wait for another two months or until after the supplemental budget is approved by the Senate before we extend assistance to the Dengvaxia victims. The victims need the DOH’s attention now. Just do it,” he added.

Sanofi manufactured Dengvaxia, which in April 2016 was used by the Aquino administration to launch a massive anti-dengue inoculation program.

The program was continued by the Duterte administration but was later suspended after Sanofi bared in November 2017 that Dengvaxia could worsen symptoms for vaccinated children who contract dengue for the first time.  /vvp