Galvez: Philippines saved $700 million in COVID-19 vaccine purchases

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday night claimed that through their negotiations, the government was able to save $700 million for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

In a nationally televised briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte, Galvez said the country saved $700 million in the vaccine deals as they were able to bring down the offer prices by about half.

“Noong kinompute ko po lahat ng mga brand, lumalabas po na naka-save po tayo ng $700 million. Meaning, ‘yong kaniyang offer price naibaba po natin ng halos kalahati kaya po ang nangyari po ‘yong dati po, ‘yong plano po namin ni Secretary Duque na 70 million doses, umangot po ng 148 million doses,” Galvez said.

“Doon po napakita na maganda po ang presyo natin na nakuha. Halos lahat po ng prices, advantage po tayo,” he added.

Moreover, Galvez said the COVID-19 vaccine purchase deals are “clean” and that they are following stringent measures.

He said he does not handle any funds related to the negotiation for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines.

"‘Yong deal po natin talaga pong sinasabi po natin sa ating mga tao, sa ating mamamayan na malinis po ‘yong deal natin at tsaka… wala po akong hawak na pera,” Galvez said.

“Wala po tayong hinahawakan na pera. Ang pera ang magbabayad, bangko. Alam po natin na ang transaction ng bangko ay malinis po ‘yan. Hindi po tayo magkakaroon ng tinatawag nating corruption because of the World Bank integrity at tsaka po ‘yong Asian Development Bank,” he added.

Galvez also said the World Health Organization has convinced vaccine manufacturers to make the vaccines available at no profit. He said pharmaceutical firms agreed on a “no profit, no loss” principle.

‘Yong ginawa po nating negosasyon, napaka-deliberate po at tsaka maganda po talaga. In fact, mapapangako ko po sa ating mahal na kababayan na ang lahat ng mga negosasyon at cost. Meaning, almost no profit,” he said.

Sinovac price not too far from other countries

Amid skepticisms on the cost of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, Galvez said its price for the Philippines is not too far off from the price given to other countries.

Galvez explained that Thailand might have gotten a cheaper price for the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine because it might have a filling station for the vaccines.

He said having a filling station means the manufacturer would just bring the raw materials and the vaccine would be completed at the filling station.

“May capability po sila (Thailand) ng manufacturing po doon. Most likely, ‘yong kanilang arrangement is may filling station kaya nakamura po sila,” he said.

He added that the vaccine could also be procured for a cheaper price if the government would be the one to handle the freight and get the vaccines from the manufacturer.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also denied that the price of Sinovac vaccines to be procured by the Philippines is higher compared to its cost in other countries.

A term sheet has already been inked by Sinovac and the Philippine government for 25 million doses.

Sinovac applied for an EUA last week. Galvez said it would secure the EUA before February 20.

The emergency use of Sinovac has already been approved in China, Indonesia, and Turkey.

The Philippines has already allocated P73.2 billion for the procurement of the vaccines, with P40 billion coming from multilateral agencies, P20 billion from domestic sources, and P13.2 billion from bilateral agreements. -NB, GMA News