MANILA – The Department of Health on Monday denied allegations that it had purchased PHP1 billion worth of remdesivir despite its initial plan to procure the investigational drug for the treatment of Covid-19.
Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza earlier questioned the agency’s request for budget to import the anti-viral drug.
“To be able to procure these investigational drugs, a certificate of product registration (CPR), or an emergency use authorization (EUA) is needed. As such, the procurement could not proceed as none of the investigational drugs have been granted these requisite regulatory approvals during the time of procurement,” the DOH said in a statement.
Some DOH hospitals and specialty hospitals in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Region 4-A (Calabarzon) were able to procure the investigational drugs even without CPR or EUAs through Compassionate Special Permits (CSP).
The CSP is a special permit that allows institutions to avail of unregistered drugs and devices and use them under certain conditions.
Around PHP 3 to 5 million were downloaded to these authorized facilities for the procurement of Covid-19 therapeutics to ensure continued access to promising investigational drugs.
“The continued use of remdesivir for Covid-19 patients of certain disposition is FULLY SUPPORTED by a consensus panel of 19 medical societies as reflected in the Philippine Covid-19 Living Recommendations,” the DOH said.
“The Health Technology Assessment Council will release a list of recommendations for investigational drugs to provide guidance on the government’s possible procurement of these therapeutics,” it added. (PNA)
