WHO denies questioning DOH vaccine procurement

MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization (WHO) belied reports that it filed complaints against the Department of Health (DOH) in connection with the questionable purchase of P833 million worth of vaccines.

“There have been some reports suggesting that WHO filed complaint to the Office of the President. WHO did not file a complaint,” WHO said in a statement.

“A National Bureau of Investigation or NBI (probe) is a matter for the government of the Philippines. WHO Philippines does not comment on any government investigation,” the agency added.

WHO noted that it has only provided assessments concerning pneumococcal vaccines upon the request of the DOH.

President Aquino earlier ordered the NBI to look into the alleged anomalous purchase of the pneumococcal vaccines in 2012.

Aquino also directed Health Secretary Enrique Ona to take a month-long leave to allow the latter to submit an extensive explanation about the suspected irregularity.

Ona denied any wrongdoing and even ordered a separate independent probe into the alleged irregular transactions at the DOH.       

The health chief said the DOH procured the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in 2012 for P833.6 million as part of an expanded vaccination program to protect 333,000 children from pneumonia.

Ona noted that the unit cost for PCV-10 was $15.40 in 2012, while that of PCV-13 was $16.34, or a cost difference of almost $1.

The special committee doing an independent investigation into the issue is expected to submit its findings before the end of Ona’s leave.

Ona is expected to return from his official leave on Nov. 28.

Aside from the vaccine mess, acting Health Secretary Janette Garin said the committee is also reviewing the P1-billion rehabilitation of Fabella Memorial Hospital. 

Meanwhile, sources said there is another irregular purchase of vaccines involving ranking officials.

Sources claimed the officials manipulated the conduct of the bidding for the procurement of some P700 million worth of vaccines now being used in the ongoing Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI).

“Out of specifications vaccines that do not have the WHO pre-qualification certificate for safety and effectiveness and do not conform to the standards of the DOH itself were purchased from an Indian pharmaceutical company,” one of the sources said.

DOH spokesman Lyndon Lee Suy said they would verify the report before making a comment.

It was said the DOH’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) flagrantly violated the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and allowed a local supplier lacking the capacity and eligibility to win the bidding.

“To allow the pre-chosen bidder to participate and pass the post evaluation, the bidding Technical Specifications have been altered and the Terms and Conditions Contract to Supply have not been enforced to allow a notorious supplier from India to dump their unsold vaccines to the Philippines,” a source said.

Ona reportedly twice ordered an investigation, prompting the cancellation of the notice of awards last January. A rebidding was reportedly hastily done in February.