Members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday expressed hopes that the Senate will pass as soon as possible the bill providing for a P1.161-billion supplemental budget to provide assistance to Dengvaxia victims.
The lawmakers led by Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, the panel’s chairman, said he is optimistic the Department of Health could appeal to the Senate to fast-track the budget approval for the benefit of the Dengvaxia victims.
The House approved the proposal embodied in House Bill 7449 last May 30, while the Senate version is still at the period of interpellation.
“Right now, the Department of Health is forced to good to use present budget of 2018 because the supplemental budget [for Dengvaxia victims] has not yet available. We will not have any problem if only we have passed this budget measure because that will really be the budget that would concentrate on helping the victims nu'ng Dengvaxia,” he said.
Nograles made the appeal as his panel deliberated on the DoH’s proposed budget for 2019.
Currently, the DoH is using funds from the 2018 budget for the vaccinees, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Duque told the Nograles panel that his office had already written the Senate a letter urging senators to pass the supplemental budget. DoH officials also go to the Senate every week to monitor the progress of its approval, said Duque.
Nograles raised the concerns of affected families to the DOH, which include the following: one, steps to take following the profiling and physical exam of the Dengvaxia victims, two, monthly check-up that could reduce casualties, and three, financial and medical assistance.
During the DOH budget hearing, Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo said there will be continuous monitoring of the vaccinees after their profiling. However, he said the issue is on the limited number of nurses who will do the monitoring.
Domingo added that the Dengvaxia express lanes will always be open to the vaccinees who may develop ailments, which may or may not have been caused by the vaccine. Thus, the victims need monthly check-ups.
Duque assured the committee that the express lanes shall be maintained in the coming years.
With regard to the financial and medical assistance provided for the victims, Duque said that DOH is still using the 2018 budget while waiting for the approval of the supplemental budget.
Nograles asked Duque if it is the time is ripe for a declaration of an emergency health crisis for the vaccinees. Duque answered it is not appropriate to declare an emergency as it might just spawn fear and spur more uncertainties, which can be unsettling for the families.
When asked by Rep. Magnolia Antonino Nadres of Nueva Ecija why he is hesitant to declare an emergency health crisis, Duque said the casualties for the past two years are relatively low compared to that of leptospirosis and dengue, among others.
Duque also explained that 98 percent of the vaccinees have recovered already, while the recorded deaths of the 2 percent were associated with other ailments including dengue, heart diseases, pneumonia, leukemia, and asthma.
“There have not been many deaths so far, but there is a projection. I have seen numbers come out to hundreds of thousands that could have died. Considering that’s the figure that cropped up during studies, it is but natural for parents to concerned,” said Antonino.
Duque said the DOH is committed to execute surveillance that is why they are currently doing the profiling of the vaccinees, which is set to be completed by the end of 2018. This will help the DOH in observing the condition of the victims as well as attend to their needs. He reiterated that the funds needed for these shall be charged from the proposed supplemental Dengvaxia budget.