Ona also being probed on other DOH procurements

BUSAN - Health Secretary Enrique Ona is being questioned on at least three procurement issues other than the purchase of multi-million peso worth of vaccines in 2012, President Aquino revealed Saturday.

Aquino declined to elaborate on the issues confronting Ona but revealed that the investigations on at least two of them have been completed.

“I’ll have to follow up on when all the investigations will be finished. It’s not just the PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine), there are several others,” Aquino told reporters who covered the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit.

“In my mind, about three or four other issues have to be attended to,” he added.

The President said he had advised Ona to remain on leave pending the results of the investigations.

Aquino said details of the issues involving Ona would be revealed “at the appropriate time” as there are interested parties “that want to preserve the status quo.”

“Once it’s completed and charges are called for, then that will be the opportunity for them to respond,” he said.

Ona and Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag are in hot water over the questionable purchase of P833-million vaccines two years ago.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted a probe after receiving a complaint from stakeholders who believe that the purchase was anomalous.

Ona and Tayag reportedly approved the procurement of PCV 10, a vaccine for children’s pulmonary diseases, even if the National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management, Formulary Executive Council and the World Health Organization advised them that PCV 13 is more cost effective.

Last October, officials said Ona went on a month long leave while recovering from an allergic reaction to hair dye. The President later on revealed that Ona took a leave of absence to allow him to answer the questions surrounding the procurement of vaccines.

Ona’s leave was supposed to end last month but it was extended supposedly “to afford the President time to assess the contents of the report that he has submitted.”