Our nation’s year-long struggle with the negative aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be well-beyond challenging. While quarantines, financial dole outs, economic stimulus, and fiscal restructuring help us get by, our actual recovery from the pandemic on a permanent basis hinges on the effective and efficient distribution of a trustworthy vaccine.
Recently, Reuters reported that the Philippine government is seeking to finalize negotiations with Sinovac Biotech for the acquisition of 25 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine. Sinovac has a muddied past, and has acknowledged a bribery case involving its CEO.
A Senate inquiry into the P72.5 billion funding allocated for COVID-vaccines has even been launched. This comes on the heels of a number of controversies surrounding the government’s vaccination plan such as the vaccination of members of the PSG and failures on the part of the Health Secretary in the acquisition of over 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
Indeed, vaccine and other health acquisition presents risk for corruption. In fact, trillions are lost globally to corruption and in public procurement, up to 50% of total health budget in middle income countries is lost to corruption.
Thus, we at Democracy Watch Philippines urge the Philippine government, and especially the Department of Health and procurement officials, to be aware of the risk of corruption and take an effort to ensure transparency in vaccine acquisition and distribution, all the way from the selection of suppliers and specifications to the actual service delivery.
Fundamentally, the vaccine is a public good that should be available to all, and it is the obligation of the state to ensure that its distribution serve as an example of accountable and responsive public service. In the same vein, we look forward to seeing all sectors of society and all levels of governance participate in the national effort of vaccination by integrating it in our national healthcare. Lastly, the endeavor of vaccination is not static, and we anticipate continued and science-backed innovations towards effective implementation of national vaccination programs.