DOH starts early procurement of vaccines for 2027 immunization

Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Early procurement of vaccines for the immunization program of the Department of Health (DOH) has been set for next year to avoid delays, Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said on Monday. During the continuation of the House committee on appropriations’ briefing on the proposed budget of the DOH for 2027, Mercado told lawmakers that the agency has a proposed budget of P6.855 billion for its immunization program, including family planning and nutrition programs. READ: LOOK: Photos of expired medicines ‘buried’ by DOH shown in hearing Article continues after this advertisement Parañaque City Rep. Brian Yamsuan asked Mercado if the agency has already proposed schedules for the immunization program next year to avoid the expiration of vaccines. The secretary noted that some vaccines are delivered depending on their seasonality, such as flu and pneumonia vaccines, and the calendar of schools, such as human papillomavirus and cervical cancer vaccines for school girls. “Latag na po yung schedule within the year. Doon po namin inaayon yung procurement schedule at ngayon ang directive ay early procurement na lalo sa mga mag-uumpisa pa lang ang taon ay kailangang ibigay na,” Mercado said. (The schedule within the year has been laid out. This is where we base the procurement schedule and now, there is a directive for early procurement, especially for vaccines that we need to roll out at the start of the year.) READ: DOH, PhilHealth chiefs worry over cuts in proposed budgets Article continues after this advertisement “Katulad nung influenza na by April dapat maipasok na yung order kasi doon lalabas yung strain for the year at dapat makapagprocure na para hindi maubusan,” Mercado added. (Just like the influenza, by April, there should be an order to release [vaccines] because it’s when the strain starts for this year and we need to procure so we don’t run out of [vaccines].) Article continues after this advertisement Mercado said the problems behind the procurement were in the process and not the financial aspect. Asked by Yamsuan how the agency was going to address the gap in buying the right medicines, the secretary explained that the DOH must strengthen its inventory management system. Mercado shared that the agency obtained technical assistance for its inventory system from the World Bank and the US government. During the Senate committee on finance’s budget hearing on the DOH last Friday, Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned DOH officials about the expired medicines, citing photos of expired medicines allegedly buried by the agency. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Mercado then confirmed that P217 million worth of medicines expired in 2025. /jpv