Duterte issues guidelines on management of donated medical goods

President Rodrigo Duterte has designated the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as the main coordinating body for all donations to the government intended for COVID-19 response.

Duterte issued the order through Administrative Order 27, which governs the acceptance, management, delivery and distribution of medicines, medical equipment and supplies and other health products donated by foreign governments, private entities, non-government organizations or any group or individual to the national government and the Department of Health.

According to the March 31 order, the OCD must prepare an inventory of all the donations to the national government and the DOH and coordinate with relevant agencies such as the Labor and Social Welfare departments in the determination of which health facilities, beneficiary groups or establishments, are in need of medical goods.

Direct donations to agencies and state hospitals will still be allowed but these should be immediately reported to the OCD.

The Department of National Defense was tasked to provide logistical support to the OCD to ensure distribution and delivery of the donated medicines, medical equipment and supplies and other health products.

Presidential Peace Adviser and chief implementer of the national policy against COVID-19 Carlito Galvez Jr. will supervise the consolidation, management, inventory, recording and distribution of donations.

A weekly report will be submitted by the OCD to the Office of the President on actions taken to implement the order, which took effect immediately. --Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News