DOH ‘uncooperative’ in vaccine probe, says De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health (DOH) is uncooperative with the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe on the questionable purchase of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 10 (PCV10) by the Department of Health, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Monday.

De Lima said in mid-2014, the NBI conducted a “discreet investigation” but has suffered setbacks to due uncooperative health officials.

“They had difficulty doing the discreet investigation. They cannot access the documents. In fact, certain personalities and offices of the DOH have become uncooperative. They were given a run around,” De Lima told reporters Monday.

She told the NBI to start an open investigation to subpoena health officials.

“I told them recently to do an open investigation and issue subpoena,” De Lima said. However, she refused to give details on who the NBI will summon.

The investigation will determine any administrative and criminal liability on the part of the officials involved.

De Lima said she ordered an investigation upon instructions of President Benigno Aquino III.

The purchase of PCV 10, De Lima said, was contrary to the recommendation of the National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management (NCPAM), the Formulary Executive Council (FEC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) that recommended PCV 13, which is said to be more cost-effective

De Lima said the 2012 purchase of the vaccines was upon the “direction” of Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag and “made possible by a certificate of exemption issued by Secretary Ona.”

Based on the DOH’s Annual Procurement Plan, the purchase of PCV 10 is worth P833.670-million through a negotiated procurement instead of a public bidding. Under the Government Procurement Act, a negotiated procurement can be resorted to only in case of two failed public bidding, in case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity, among others.