National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon reiterated on Wednesday, Sept. 8, that the personal protective equipment bought for the healthcare workers during the onset of the pandemic in 2020 were not overpriced.
Earlier, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. said each medical grade PPE, priced at P1,700, is composed of medical-grade cover-all, gloves, head cover, shoe cover, goggles, N95 mask, surgical mask, and surgical gown.
During President Rodrigo Duterte's weekly "Talk to the People," Dizon said many forgot the country's situation in March, April, and May last year, saying that it was really difficult for the national government to find the supplies healthcare workers need.
"Nagpunta po kami ni Sec. Galvez sa Cebu at the height of the surge nung April and sa ibang ospital nakakita kami ng mga mask na nakasabit sa sampayan, tinanong namin ni Sec. Galvez, bakit mga mask nasa sampayan? Kasi wala na kaming mask, kailangan kahit hindi washable, i-recycle namin sabi nung health worker talagang dumugo po yung puso namin ni Sec. Galvez (Sec. Galvez and I went to a Cebu hospital at the height of the surge in April and we saw masks hanging on the clothesline, Sec. Galvez and I asked, why are the masks hanging there? Because there are no more masks, even if they are not washable, we need to recycle them, the health worker said. Our hearts really bled)," Dizon recalled.
He emphasized that all PPEs brought by the national government were given by Galvez and Health secretary Francisco Duque III to health workers "for free."
"It's important to remember how difficult it was. Bu thankfully nagkaroon tayo ng (we had) supply and we were able to save many lives," Dizon added.