Duterte eyes purchase of high-flow nasal cannula for COVID-19 patients -Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to look for funds that will be used to purchase high-flow nasal cannula devices to aid oxygen-deprived COVID-19 patients, Malacañang said Thursday.

Duterte made the commitment during a meeting with experts, which included professors from the University of the Philippines, on Wednesday.

“Tinanong niya, ano na ba talaga ang mga available na mga gamot. So nag-isa-isa po iyong mga kini-clinical trial; mayroon siyang sinabi na pupuwede ba iyong ginagamit sa mga hikain eh gamitin natin – ang sagot hindi po, wala pong datos na nagpapakita na nakakatulong iyan,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

“Ang lumabas po, ang pinakamabuti ay iyong…high flow nasal cannula, iyan pala po ang pinaka-mas mabuti at hindi ang ventilators kaya nga lang po, ito po’y manufactured in New Zealand at konti lang ang supply.  So ang sabi niya, ‘Well hahanap tayo ng pera, bumili tayo ng pinakamaraming kaya nating bilhin na high flow nasal cannula.’”

As of Thursday, the Philippines has 38,183 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 90.7% of which are mild, 8.5% are asymptomatic, 0.4% are severe, and 0.5% are in critical condition, according to government data.

Roque also said Duterte asked the experts whether the Philippines could further open up its economy despite the rising number of infections.

The experts replied that it could be done provided there is effective implementation of localized lockdowns and scaled-up testing, tracing, isolation and treatment.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said on Wednesday that the government has so far released P374.89 billion to finance efforts against the pandemic, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development receiving the largest share in the amount of P200.98 billion for the Social Amelioration Program.

The Philippine government is aiming to raise around P436 billion or roughly $8.72 billion in loans from foreign sources for COVID-19 response and economic recovery efforts.

So far, the government has raised a total of $7.761 billion in loans and grants from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Agence Francaise de Developpement as well as the issuance of global bonds. -MDM, GMA News