DOH wants Sanofi to refund P3.5B paid for Dengvaxia, indemnify affected kids

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced on Friday that the Department of Health will demand that Sanofi return the P3.5 billion used to purchase the anomalous dengue vaccine Dengvaxia from French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, and shoulder the medical expenses incurred by affected victims.

“We will demand the refund of the PhP 3.5 billion paid for the Dengvaxia, and that Sanofi set up an indemnification fund to cover the hospitalization and medical treatment for all children who might have severe dengue,” Secretary Duque said in a statement.

Duque also reminded the public of PhilHealth's dengue case rate package, which will cover P8,000 to P16,000 for severe dengue including hospital and physician fees.

“We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring our children for any adverse event following immunization, and will strengthen the readiness of our public hospitals in attending to any severe dengue cases that may occur,” he said.

The health chief on Tuesday said the DOH is considering a refund for the P3.5 billion used to purchase the tetravalent dengue vaccine, P1.4 billion worth of which remains at the cold storage facility of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

A day prior to this, Duque said Sanofi may face charges over the release of Dengvaxia after the manufacturer previewed medical findings showing that the dengue vaccine can cause "severe disease" for patients who have not had the virus prior to vaccination.

"Malamang may pananagutan 'yan talaga, pero pinapaaral ko pa sa legal services group ng DOH [Department of Health] 'yung kontrata at ano ba 'yung kanilang mga undertakings. Kasi bawat kontrata may stipulations 'yan. May mga kanya-kanyang dapat gawin ang magkabilang panig na pumasok o pumirma sa kontrata," Duque explained in an interview on Unang Balita. — MDM, GMA News