DEPARTMENT of Health Assistant Secretary Abdullah Dumama on Thursday, April 26, said the DOH executive committee has issued a resolution allowing the bidding of human anti-rabies vaccines which do not have World Health Organization (WHO) certification.
Dumama, during the sidelines of the send off ceremony for President Rodrigo Duterte Thursday, said the shortage was due to the fact that the bidding of medicines with WHO certification has failed that led to the shortage.
"Two weeks ago the DOH central commitee has issued a resolution allowing the bidding of medicine without WHO certification, but with good background. The central office is now allowed to procure medicine with good track record," he said.
He said there are many suppliers from other countries that do not need WHO certification.
He said that by August normal distribution of vaccines will be achieved.
Dumama added that they are currently using their remaining buffer supply for the region.
Meanwhile, Dumama said the resolution of the Execom also required for those who will avail any human anti-rabies vaccine to undergo skin test first.
The DOH executive committee is the decision making body of the department composed of the Health secretary, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.