House panel OKs substitute bill on stockpiling of drugs, equipment in health emergencies

The House committee on appropriations has approved the substitute bill on a measure creating the Health Procurement and Stockpiling Bureau under the nation's health department, which is intended to prepare the country for possible pandemic in the future.

In an online committee meeting on Wednesday, Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr. said the measure aims to provide the stockpiling of critical drugs, medicines, vaccines devices and materials for public health emergencies.

Gato said that critical supplies in public health emergencies—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—include alcohol, masks, mechanical ventilators, personal protective equipment, and RT-PCR test kits and machines.

He added that stockpiling essential medicine and supplies would address problems such as the government's reliance on donations from other countries, which occurred during the COVID-19 crisis.

"We relied heavily on donations and the entire country panicked due to global shortage of these items," Gato said, reading Quezon City 4th District Representative Angelina "Helen" Tan's statement. Tan is the principal author of the stockpiling bill.

"To avoid similar situation, I have filed this bill with main trust of protecting public health and safety by preventing and controlling the spread of diseases by stockpiling essential and critical vaccines to effectively and swiftly confront devastating consequences of public health emergencies," he added.

Gato defined stockpiling as an inventory of health commodities and quantities of materials that are stored in government warehouses or on government properties in times of emergency.

Transparency and accountability

Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas aired her concern about the Department of Health's transparency and accountability in the health procurement process, citing an instance where medicines and supplies were not distributed and reached their expiry date.

"What are the  other mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability over this fund? Iyon ang pangamba ko nung last time, noong nag-deliberate sa budget, ang daming gamot na hindi nagamit at nagkaproblema ang warehouses at barangay sa pag-deliver ng gamot," Brosas said.

In a 2019 annual audit report, the Commission on Audit found that P2.2 billion worth of expired, overstocked or nearly expired medicines and medical/dental supplies piled up due to poor procurement planning; inefficient and uncoordinated transfer/distribution; and lack of monitoring and proper storage. 

According to DOH Director Crispin Valdez, the issue has been "accounted for" by the health department.

"We instituted changes with regards to that all reported [that expired] and so on, these are all accounted for. Some are not regular procurement but donations from various entities," Valdez said.

Gato said there will be accounting and auditing rules to make sure that the health procurement will be transparent. Gato added that the Commission on Audit will review the DOH's procurement process. — BM, GMA News