The Department of Health (DOH) denied the “dropping the ball again” remarks made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. regarding the government’s ongoing emergency procurement of an additional 50 million microsyringes for COVID-19 vaccines in an interview on Monday (Dec.13).
DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III denied the allegations made by DFA Sec. Teddy Locsin Jr. and explained that the price of the supplier went over the government’s approved budget. He also clarified that the microsyringes are not a donation.
We dropped the ball again; this time offer of 50 million syringes. Discussed the need in Washington DC and got a response prepared to go into details with PH agencies but they refused to discuss the ball let alone catch it. First Pfizer, then Moderna. Ok, I see the pattern.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) December 11, 2021
“Walang katotohanan ‘yan, walang basis. Unang una, ‘yung sinasabi niya, hindi iyan donation. This is about procurement. Mayroon siyang binabanggit, although hindi niya sinabi kung anong pangalan ng company,” Sec. Duque III said in an interview with PTV.
“Ang gusto ba naman eh mataas ang presyo na bibilhin namin, iyong bibilhin ng DOH, hindi naman puwede iyon. There is no basis for Locsin to say that this is a ‘dropped the ball,’ because we never dropped the ball. Siya siguro nanda-drop the ball, pero hindi kami,” he explained.
The health secretary is challenging DFA Sec. Locsin to produce evidence of his claim. He also expressed his dismay that Locsin did not reach out to him first to clarify the information before posting on social media.
“Produce the document. Wala siyang dokumento to show, no letter to IATF, no letter to the DOH. Ni hindi man ako tinatawagan, ni hindi man ako sinusulatan na for clarification man lang, ano ba naman iyong tawagan ako o sumulat. ‘Can I clarify something?’, ‘di ba ang dali-dali naman gawin iyon?” Sec. Duque III said.
Sec. Duque said he will talk to President Rodrigo Duterte later to resolve the issue and to avoid this from happening again between members of the cabinet and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Meanwhile, in a joint statement, DOH and National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) explained that the P2.38 per syringe was only a basis for the ongoing procurement. They also ensured the public that there is enough syringe supply in the country until the year ends.
“Further to this, the DOH also procured 100 million pieces of 0.5ml AD syringes last April 2021 for P2.38 per piece, from an initial approved budget of P2.50 per piece. Thus, P2.38 per piece or $0.048 cents (P50 = $1) was used as a basis for the ongoing emergency procurement of another batch of 50 million pieces of 0.5ml AD syringes,” the DOH and NTF joint statement said.
“We are continuously ensuring enough supplies of syringes for our COVID-19 vaccination program – noting that 0.3ml syringes are different from 0.5ml syringes, and as such would have varying prices,” said Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande, Undersecretary of the Health Regulation Team.
“We assure the public that the DOH is continuously ensuring a sufficient stockpile of syringes and that processes to obtain these are consistent with the provisions of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Act,” she added.
DOH Secretary Duque III assured that there will be enough syringes to be used in the next Bayanihan Bakunahan national vaccination drive on Dec. 15-17.
“Kumpleto naman, nagda-datingan na. Mayroon tayong 66 million [syringes] na dumating eh, may hinihintay pa na another 33 million,” he said.
At least 44 million syringes were ordered three months ago. As of Monday, 3,653,000 syringes out of the 4 million have already been delivered and the rest is expected this coming week. -Report from Mela Lesmoras / CC-bny
