But whether or not they were buying emergency tests, MOH is in need of funds and the Prime Minister might soon have to go to the House of Representatives to ask for a supplementary budget.
If it's before April, it will be the PUP's third in one fiscal year. But according to the minister, it's necessary because of how fluid the pandemic is, and the fact that they can't predict what they will need and when. That's in addition to contractual obligations that they have to fulfil - some from the past administration as well. Here's how Bernard put it:
Hon Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
"The rise in cases, the spike in cases, more people have to be assisted with the pantry program, COVID response, then we had to bring in the COVID enforcement unit, there are several things that contribute for the need to have to go back now and say we have to make a request for a supplementary to meet contractual obligations, we need these medications, as you are aware there have been a short fall of some of the medication in some of the hospital and hopefully we'll start to see these things coming in over the next week to the next month, hopefully by the end of February we should have received all ten container rolls of medication to be able to supply the shortages we had. So yes I won't deny the fact that there is a need for us to go to the House for a supplementary, now that has yet to be finalized with the Ministry of Finance, how much will we be able to access, it's like everything, a budget is a Wishlist, this is what you need, this is how you want it. I can tell you when the COVID initial budget was prepared for COVID, the COVID line item budget where a lot of the things are paid from that, whatever COVID related matters. The budget prepared was about $21 million, it was only approved in the house for $15 million so you see already the cuts were there, so it's a very dynamic ministry and things can happen we have omicron raging upon us so you have to always stay focus based on the situation at hand. And so definitely we are hoping to get the approval by the House if we have to take that supplementary to at least be able to cover up for those remaining obligations that are there by the ministry."
