The Department of Health (DOH) assured that all face shields distributed to healthcare workers were in good condition.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that all medical equipment being distributed to health facilities were being inspected first by the DOH.
She made the statement amid the Senate investigation that "substandard" face shields were allegedly supplied to the DOH by the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
“As far as DOH is concerned, whatever we were able to deliver to all of our healthcare workers ay maayos po (were in good condition),” Vergeire said on Saturday, Sept. 25.
“Hindi po kami tumatanggap talaga ng may mga sira o di kaya ay may mga ganyang klaseng discoloration o nasira na yung foam. Hindi po namin yan tinatanggap. We do inspections also (We don't accept face shields that have damage or have foams that have discoloration. We do not accept that),” she added.
The DOH spokesperson explained that some “medical commodities” like face shields used by healthcare workers also have a “shelf life” since some of its components may “deteriorate over time.”
“Itong mga face shields na binibili namin (These face shields that we buy), this is not for the community. This is medical grade and is used by our medical workers,” she said.
“Kailangan syempre kumpleto at saka maayos ang maibigay natin sa kanila na mga gamit para sila ay protektado sa sakit. So kailangan lang natin i-validate talaga if these deliveries ay talagang nagkaroon ng kakulangan (Of course, we need to be able to provide them with complete and proper equipment so that they are protected from the disease. So we just need to really validate if the deliveries had lapses),” she added.
The DOH will wait for the result of the investigation being conducted, said Vergeire.
“Well iniimbestigahan na iyan, we just leave it to our legislators at hintayin po natin ang resulta na lalabas sa imbestigasyon (Well that's being investigated, we just leave it to our legislators and let's wait for the result of the investigation),” she said.
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'Substandard' face shields repacked by Pharmally for DOH, Pharmally exec admits