KUALA LUMPUR – Wong Kah Woh (Taiping-PH) has expressed his disappointment at the Health Ministry’s refusal to divulge details of the losses incurred by the government as a result of Covid-19 vaccines expiring.
Urging for greater transparency, the former Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman also accused the ministry of hiding behind non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) signed with vaccine manufacturers.
This is after he received a written parliamentary reply from Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa yesterday stating that a total of 2.8 million vaccine doses of various brands have expired.
Dr Zaliha, however, stopped short of revealing the total loss that has to be borne by the government due to the NDAs.
“I would like to inform the minister that I am upset by the answer given,” he said when debating Budget 2023 for the Health Ministry at the committee stage here today.
“Every time we touch on the cost and procurement of vaccines, the answer will also be about the NDAs, which are always used as a shield by the ministry to protect itself from providing an actual figure.”
Wong pointed out that during his time in the PAC, he had also read the NDAs, and noted that the agreements only stipulate that the cost of each individual dose of the vaccine shall remain a secret.
“Adding up all the various vaccine brands in one lump sum will not affect what is included in the NDAs,” he said.
Wong said he hopes Dr Zaliha will provide the full detail of the losses caused by expired Covid-19 vaccines during her winding-up speech later today.
Dr Zaliha had said in her written reply that 2,796,638 vaccine doses of various brands, stored at the Health Ministry and Covid-19 storage facilities, have expired as of February 28.
This makes up 3.27% of the overall vaccine doses acquired by the government.
However, she said the government was unable to disclose specific details as it is bound by NDAs. – The Vibes, March 21, 2023
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