NBI clears Ona in alleged vaccine procurement anomaly

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has cleared former Health secretary Enrique Ona and other officials of the Department of Health (DOH) in the allegedly anomalous procurement of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in 2012.

In a memorandum signed by Ryner Bergado of the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Action Division, the bureau said there was no evidence showing Ona disregarded the law when he ordered the procurement of one million dosages of PCV 10.

The NBI said there was no proof that Ona had any ill-motive or would gain something for himself from the procurement.

“Assuming that Ona violated Executive Order (EO) 49, the same has become moot and academic in view of his resignation as secretary of health,” the memorandum dated June 6, 2015 read.

The NBI said there was no evidence showing Ona and the other respondents decided to procure PCV 10 instead of PCV 13 in order to benefit themselves.

The EO mandates the use of the Philippine National Drug Formulary as the basis for the procurement of drug products by the government.

In 2012, former president Benigno Aquino III ordered the NBI to investigate DOH’s procurement of PCV 10, noting the move was allegedly contrary to the recommendations of the National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management, Formulary Executive Council and the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommended PCV 13.

Based on WHO’s cost-effective analysis study between PCV 10 and 13, both vaccines are cost-effective, but PCV 13 was highly cost effective.

The DOH’s central office bids and awards committee (COBAC) found the cost estimate for PCV 10 was acceptable at $17.78 million for one million dosages.

The costs of PCV 13 was $19.38 million, indicating a price difference of $1.6 million.

The procurement was made possible after Ona issued a certificate exempting PCV 10 from EO 49. The procurement was done through negotiated contract through the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The NBI memorandum showed that while the DOH procured PCV 10 using documents prepared for the purchase of PCV 13, the “approved COBAC resolution pertains to PCV in its generic form, hence it can be used to procure any kind of PCV.”

PCV protects children below five years old from pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, middle ear infection or otitis media and blood infection.

Relieved

Ona said he felt relieved that the case has finally been resolved, even as he maintained that the issue was blown out of proportion by former president Aquino.

The controversy had caused Ona to quit from the Aquino Cabinet.

“In medicine we have differences in opinions. One would say this is the best vaccine while the other would say this is the best one. As secretary of health and practicing doctor, I think I have a broader perspective in making a decision like that,” Ona said.

“This is all water under the bridge now. I want the public to understand that there was no other motivation than to give them the best in terms of judgment in which vaccine is best for them. I was confident that I would be cleared and I’m happy that this is finally put to rest,” he added.