DoH chief: Sanofi refunds P1.161B in Dengvaxia program
EMBATTLED vaccines firm Sanofi Pasteur has refunded the Philippine government P1.161 billion in connection with the Dengvaxia immunization program, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III disclosed on Thursday.
“There has already been a refunded amount to the tune of P1.161 billion,” Mr. Duque said in Pampanga, as aired by ANC.
He added: “Kaunting kaunti na lang po ang kulang. Hindi nangangahulugang tapos na tayo diyan, dahil kung may ebidensiya o patunay na ikinubli na isang mahalagang impormasyon na nakapagbago sana ng desisyon na isagawa ang Dengvaxia immunization program,…sigurado po ang inyong DoH (Department of Health), isisiguro po natin na may mananagot at ginagawa po natin ang lahat….”
(Only a little remains unaccounted for. It doesn’t mean this matter is resolved, because if there’s evidence of a coverup of information that would change our decision on the Dengvaxia immunization program, your DoH will ensure that someone will answer for this and we are doing everything in that regard….)
Sanofi Pasteur had earlier said it would provide reimbursement for the doses of Dengvaxia that were not used by the government. But the DoH had called for a full reimbursement of its P3.5-billion contract with the company, a move supported by Senate President Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III.
