Duque: Prices Of COVID-19 Vaccines Based On ‘Googled’ News Article

The prices of COVID-19 vaccines were based on a “googled” news article, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday admitted that the Department of Health (DOH) had “googled” the prices of COVID-19 vaccines and submitted the list of prices to the Senate.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole, Duque admitted this on Friday when Senator Panfilo Lacson asked about the list of prices sent to the Senate committee on finance last year.

According to Lacson, this wasn’t intended to open old wounds, but this needed closure because somehow the controversy began with the submission of the price of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine to the committee on finance of the Senate last November.

Based on the said list, the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine was the second-most-expensive vaccine with a PHP 3,629 price tag for two doses per individual, next to Moderna COVID-19 a price tag at around P3,904 to P4,504 for two doses per individual.

READ ALSO: Prices of COVID-19 Vaccines Came From DOH, Says Senator Angara

When Senator Lacson asked about the basis of the price tag of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, Duque said that he was told that at that time, the DOH googled it and came across a report from Reuters which he already had the copy.

Duque also said that the estimated PHP 3,629 price tag of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine was the total amount when the reported USD 60 cost + taxes and inflation were computed.

“So the sole basis of that submission, yung news report ng Reuters and there was no effort to check with Sinovac , the firm, itself para mavalidate lang? Because you know official document yun, official record, official submission and maybe this would serve as a good lesson in future submissions na dapat bago tayo mag-submit medyo accurate at saka validated yung data” Senator Lacson said.

READ ALSO: Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine “Too Expensive”, “Very Problematic” — Galvez

According to Duque, he was told that at that time, the Department of Health had no communications yet with any COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers so it had to rely on the news report.

Duque’s explanation didn’t sit well with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who was presiding over the Senate hearing as the chairman of the committee.

“Nevertheless, the moral of the story wag submit ng submit, i-verify nyo muna at baka mapagbintangan,” Sotto said.

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