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The Philippines’ Department of Health purchased one billion pesos ($21 million) worth of remdesivir to treat Covid-19 patients. GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Philippines’ $21M remdesivir buy a ‘waste of money’
Mon, 10 May 2021
Two Philippine House lawmakers on May 9 criticised the Department of Health (DoH) for buying one billion pesos ($21 million) worth of remdesivir even after the World Health Organisation (WHO) had rejected the use of the drug in Covid-19 treatment.
Anakalusugan Representative Michael Defensor and House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza also questioned the DoH’s decision to push through with the transaction, which they described as a waste of money.
“We consider all new purchases of remdesivir as reckless and foolish spending in light of the WHO recommendation, and considering that [the] government is scrounging for money to buy more Covid-19 vaccines and pay for the 2,000-peso cash aid for every Filipino contemplated under the Bayanihan 3 bill,” Defensor said in a statement.