Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. opened up Thursday that he got hurt over the allegations against him regarding the claims in the overpricing of COVID-19 vaccines.
During the Laging Handa press briefing, Galvez was asked to react to the call of Akbayan Chair Emeritus Loretta Ann “Etta” Rosales for him to step down over speculations surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine deals.
Galvez said he respected Rosales’ opinion but noted she should not judge because she does not know the details of negotiations between the national government and the vaccine suppliers.
“Ginagalang ko po ‘yung ano po ni Ma’am Etta Rosales kasi magkakilala naman po kami pero dapat hindi muna siya mang-judge kasi ‘yung lahat po ng vaccine na nabili po natin ay talaga pong binigay po at cost, ang guidance po ng WHO [World Health Organization] sa mga manufacturer ay wala pong tinatawag na commercialization, no profit, magkaroon po ng equitable access… ‘yun po ay kasunduan lahat ng manufacturers that they will provide access to poor countries like us,” he said.
(I respect what Ma’am Etta Rosales said because we know each other, but she should not judge first because all the vaccines we bought are really given at a cost. The WHO guidance to manufacturers is there should be no commercialization, no profit. All will have equitable access … that is the agreement of all manufacturers that they will provide access to poor countries like us.)
Galvez hurt by COVID-19 vaccine overpricing claims
“Ginagalang ko po ‘yung opinyon ninyo pero minsan nakakasakit po ng damdamin, wala po kayong alam sa negosasyon, napakahirap po ng negosasyon na ginagawa namin. Talagang ang ginagawa po namin ay binabagsak po namin ang presyo,” he added.