DOH: Gov’t negotiating for ‘best, most ideal prices’ for COVID-19 vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — Trust and respect the actions being undertaken by the government in procuring “the best vaccines at the most ideal prices” for Filipinos.

Thus, was the plea of the Department of Health (DOH) as the country’s acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines were being met with scrutiny and criticisms by taxpayers as well as senators.

This comes after Senator Sonny Angara’s office cleared up Monday that the estimated market prices of COVID-19 vaccines it released late last year had been supplied to the Senate by DOH.

READ: Angara clarifies: Data on prices of Covid-19 vaccines came from DOH

“The DOH clarifies that the said vaccine prices were indicative market prices based on the rates published by different manufacturers generated for the purpose of estimating the proposed budget for the vaccination program,” the health agency said in a statement.

“These are not, in any way, the negotiated prices that the government and the manufacturer agreed on.”

“The DOH urges the public to trust and respect the process that the country, through vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, is undertaking to ensure that Filipinos are afforded the best vaccines at the most ideal prices,” it added.

According to Angara’s office, the information on COVID-19 vaccine prices that it presented was meant to guide senators who were asking about details of the jabs during debates on the 2021 national budget.

“The proper attribution should be with the DOH and not Sen. Angara. The Senator does not claim to be an expert on the issue and does not have any knowledge about the actual cost of the vaccines other than what was provided to him by the DOH last November,” Angara’s office said in a statement.

KGA