DOH to purchase P200 M worth of contraceptives

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is now preparing to purchase P200 million worth of contraceptives following the lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Reproductive Health Law.

Commission on Population (PopCom) executive director Juan Antonio Perez III said the government needs to procure additional pills and other contraceptives to address the current shortage and projected increase in demand for family planning products.

“The DOH will start bidding out next week P200 million worth of contraceptives. It will be good for one year’s supply for about 400,000 women of reproductive age in 2018,” Perez said.

Perez noted that the P200 million will come from DOH’s 2017 budget of P4.2 billion for Reproductive Health programs.

He said about 300 rural health units have reported “stock out” of contraceptives, particularly pills, because its certificate of registration with the Food and Drug Administration has expired and the government was unable to purchase due to the TRO.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III yesterday reported zero supply for Progestin-only and injectable contraceptives.

Perez said taking pills is the most popular method of contraception in the country, with 40 percent of the six million family planning users in the country choosing this method.

With the lifting of the TRO, Perez said they expect an increase in the number of family planning product users.

Duque III announced that the DOH has already started distribution of family planning commodities to regional health offices, which give out the products free to women of reproductive age.      

“It’s all systems go for the DOH to fully implement the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law,” he said.

Duque said DOH regional health offices would prioritize the distribution of 260,000 subdermal implants. The implants kept at the DOH warehouse will expire in September 2018.

Health officials gave assurance that the implant is safe for use until its expiration date and effective for three years.

The three-year efficacy will start from its implantation, health experts said.

Perez said many women could shift to the use of implant contraceptive with the lifting of the TRO.

He said contraceptive implant is the most effective among methods of family planning.

For next year’s implementation of family planning programs, Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo said the DOH is seeking a P4.3-billion budget.

Sen. Vicente Sotto earlier warned that he would stop the DOH from seeking budget for the implementation of the Reproductive Health Law.

Duque said he respects the opinion of Sotto, but the DOH is mandated to implement the law.

“But I assure the senator that we will reasonably implement the provisions of the RH Law,” Duque said, adding that he intends to set a meeting with Sotto.  

“I will also get in touch with him to make our communication open so that we understand exactly our respective positions and who knows, at the end there will be complimentations of our positions,” Duque said.

Duque said critics of the RH Law may file appropriate petition to stop its implementation if they wish to do so.

“To file another injunction case is within their rights. It is really up to them,” he said.