Aprubado na sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang panukala na titiyak sa access at sapat na suplay ng bansa sa gamot, bakuna, medical supplies, equipment tuwing panahon ng public health emergency tulad ngayong may COVID-19 pandemic.
Sa botong 197, sang-ayon at wala namang pagtutol ay inaprubahan ang House Bill 9456 o Health Procurement and Stockpiling Act.
Sa ilalim ng panukala ay lilikha ng Health Procurement and Stockpiling Bureau na pangangasiwaan ng Department of Health (DOH).
Inaatasan din ang bureau sa pag-iipon, pag-iingat at pagpapadali sa paglalabas ng sapat na bilang ng pharmaceuticals, vaccines, devices, at materials na makakapagligtas ng buhay tuwing may health crisis.
Lilikha rin ng Medical Stockpiling Fund upang mapanatili at matiyak ang matatag na suplay ng critical drugs, vaccines at medical devices na siyang susuporta sa National Drug and Device Security Program ng DOH.
Ayon kay Committee Health Chair Angelina “Helen” Tan, mayakda ng panukala, dahil sa naranasang COVID-19 pandemic ay nakita ang pangangailangan na may nakahandang supply ng pharmaceuticals at medical devices at kinakailangan na ring maging proactive ng bansa sa pagtugon sa anumang public health emergency.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to preposition critical and strategic pharmaceuticals and medical devices as well as the supply of raw materials. The country needs to be proactive in its response to public health emergencies,” sabi ni Tan.
