IPINASA Miyerkules ng gabi ng Kamara de Representantes sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang House Bill (HB) 9456 o “Health Procurement and Stockpiling Act” na pangunahing isinulong ni Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan upang mas maging mabilis ang “access” ng publiko sa kritikal na mga gamot, medisina, at medikal na suplay sa panahon ng public health emergencies.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to preposition critical and strategic pharmaceuticals and medical devices as well as the supply of raw materials. The country needs to be proactive in its response to public health emergencies,” pahayag ni Tan, chairperson ng House committee on health.

Sa ilalim ng panukala, itatatag ang Health Procurement and Stockpiling Bureau sa ilalim ng Department of Health (DoH).

Papalitan nito ang kasalukuyang Procurement Service and the Supply Chain Management Service at magsisilbing pangunahing ahensiya na mayroong mandato sa transparent, parehas, aktibo at sistematikong procurement service para sa DoH.

Sinabi ni Tan na obligasyon rin ng itatayong ahensiya na mag-stock, magpanatili at maglabas ng sapat na suplay ng life-saving pharmaceuticals products, bakuna at ibang materyal lalong-lalo sa panahon ng public health emergencies.

“Among its critical functions include the identification of strategic and critical drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials needed for public health emergencies that have the distinct capability of being stockpiled in strategic and secure areas of the country; supplementation of drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials to state supplies acting as a stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of adequate amounts of drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials may not be immediately available; and ensuring the rotation, replenishment, and freshness of stocks and that there exists at all times steady, available and adequate supply of drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials, which are essential in responding to public health emergencies,” ani Tan.

“The Health Procurement and Stockpiling Bureau will also lead in facilitating the creation of a conducive environment to encourage pharmaceutical and device self-sufficiency for medical supplies needed by the country and spearhead the crafting of a multi-sector National Drug and Device Security Program geared towards the country’s self-reliance in producing drugs and medicines, vaccines, devices, and materials,” ayon kay Tan.

Base on the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Mission report, sinabi ni Tan na isa sa madalas tamaan ng natural na kalamidad ang bansa dahil sa lokasyon nito kaya malaking hamon ang pagkakaroon ng solidong progreso sa pagkontrol ng nakakahawang mga sakit.

“Given this situation, the country’s preparedness in times of public health emergencies is significantly necessary such as during pandemics and natural disasters,” ani Tan.

“COVID-19 has caught the country and the world flat footed, which affected the global and local production and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices as well as the supply of raw materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, packaging materials including finished medical products needed to combat the pandemic and other diseases of public health. Some countries imposition of limits on export of medicines and medical supplies/equipment such as facemasks, shields, and ventilators to mitigate critical shortages in their countries has likewise aggravated the situation. It will be recalled that the European Union has also imposed a block-wide export ban on some medical protective equipment in order to keep adequate supplies within the region in the face of scarcity in supply amid the increasing demand,” dagdag ni Tan.

Naniniwala si Tan na malaki ang magagawa ng panukala upang mapabuti ang pagtugon ng bansa sa nakakahawang mga sakit sa panahon ng emergencies.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco