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Ona to NBI: No WHO recommendation for purchase of PCV-13
By MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA News
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Health Secretary on-leave Enrique Ona believes his decision to have the Department of Health buy doses of pneumococcal vaccine 10 (PCV 10) instead of PCV-13 led to savings of more than P230 million for the government in 2012.
In an eight-page affidavit he submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation, Ona also belied Justice Secretary Leila De Lima's remarks that the World Health Organization recommended the purchase of PCV-13 vaccines, supposedly because it was more cost effective.
De Lima ordered the NBI investigation on Ona and other health officials in connection with the questioned procurement of anti-pneumonia vaccines.
Ona said he made the decision after discussing with other health officials the cost-effectiveness of both PCV 10 and PCV 13 and considering limited government budget for the vaccination program.
De Lima ordered the NBI investigation on Ona and other health officials in connection with the questioned procurement of anti-pneumonia vaccines.
"I was convinced that PCV 10 will better advance the health interest of the Filipino people," Ona said in his affidavit.
"My judgment was based on my experience and interpretation of existing medical and research data. It was based on my assessment of the overall health outcomes to the beneficiary infants," he added.
Ona said he made the decision after discussing with other health officials the cost-effectiveness of both PCV 10 and PCV 13 and considering limited government budget for the vaccination program.
"I would like to point out that contrary to what was published in the newspapers, the World Health Organization (WHO) did not endorse any particular PCV," Ona said. —NB, GMA News
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