Why it bought the PPEs at P1,800 per set, DOH explains

The Department of Health on Monday defended the P1.8-billion cost of the one million sets of personal protective equipment it bought for the country's frontliners against COVID-19.

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire was asked in an online press conference why each set cost P1,800 when the Office of the Vice President sourced PPEs for only P400 a set.

“Sinasabi lang natin, ‘di pare-pareho ang PPEs na binibili ng iba’t ibang grupo at binibili ng DOH. Ang binibili namin ay mga sets na iba-iba para sa aming facilities," Vergeire said, adding that a PPE set for the emergency room is different from the set for the triage area.

"Ang set na prinocure namin ay [ang] pinakakumpleto. Ibig sabihin, meron tayong walo na PPE types sa loob nitong sets na sinasabi natin," she added.

Vergeire said the sets the DOH bought included N95 masks, coveralls, gloves, head cover, shoe cover, goggles, surgical mask, and surgical gown, “kaya umabot sa ganitong halaga.”

“Ang P1,800 na binili ng DOH, sumailalim sa procurement process ng [procurement service] ng Department of Budget and Management," she added.

Senator Grace Poe earlier questioned the P1.8-billion price tag, saying that the government could have saved millions if the DOH opted for cheaper sets. 

Vergeire said they had already distributed PPEs to 14 hospitals across the country on Monday.

The first batch or 200,000 PPE sets are expected to be delivered from April 1 to 6, while the second batch composed of 700,000 sets will arrive between April 6 and 24.

“Tuloy tuloy pa rin ang ating pamamahagi ng PPEs at supplies sa iba’t ibang ospital at lalawigan na nangangailangan nito,” Vergeire said. —NB/LDF, GMA News