PONDO SA BIKTIMA NG DENGVAXIA DIRINGGIN

MAGSASAGAWA ang Senate Committee on Finance ng pagdinig kaugnay sa panukalang paglalaan ng pondo sa kinakailangang gamot ng mga batang nabigyan ng Dengvaxia vaccine.

Ayon kay Chairperson ng Finance Committee at awtor ng Senate Bill No. 1794, pangungunahan nito ang pagdinig sa naturang sa panukalang One Billion One Hundred Sixty-One Million Seven Hundred Ten Thousand Pesos (P1,161,710,000) bilang supplemental appropriations  para sa 2018.

“This first public hearing is our first step towards appropriating a sufficient amount to fund the much-needed support for the Dengvaxia vaccinees by providing them with medical assistance for medical-kits, hospitalization, out-patient care services, such as laboratory tests,” anang senadora.

Umaasa si Legarda na kapag naisabatas na ang  medical assistance ay maiibsan na ang pangamba ng publiko partikular ang pamilya ng may 800,000 batang nabakunahan dengue vaccine.

“Dengvaxia was originally intended to help reduce, if not eradicate, the dengue incidents in the country, and it was most unfor-tunate that the public was not informed of its accompanying risks.  Let us earnestly hope that this medical assistance program will not be too late in terms of making sure that we keep our children safe and healthy,” diin ni Legarda.

Nauna rito, iginiit ng pamahalaan sa Zuellig Pharma, local distributor ng Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, na i-refund ang P1.16 billion na hindi nagamit na vials ng Dengvaxia vaccines.

Kabilang sa mga inimbitahan sa pagdinig ngayon ay ang mga kinatawan mula sa Department of Budget and Management, Department of Health, Bureau of Treasury, Anak Dengvaxia Victims, United Parents Against Dengvaxia, Dengvaxia Care Organization, Parents Alliance Justice Against Dengvaxia, and Samahan ng mga Magulang Anak ay Biktima ng Dengvaxia.

Bukod sa SB 1794 kinonsidera rin ni Legarda ang inihaing panukala nina Senador Richard Gordon ang SB 1795 at Senador  JV Ejercito na SB 1769.   VICKY CERVALES