P17.5-M medicine expired, wasted

MANILA, Philippines - More than P17.5 million worth of medicine procured by the Department of Health (DOH) in 2012 and in previous years have reportedly expired and are rotting in the agency’s storage room, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

In a report released yesterday, state auditors blamed the overstocking and expiry of drugs on purchase of items with near-expiry dates.

Health Undersecretary Ted Herbosa said they have no knowledge on the matter as they have yet to receive the COA report.

“Usually the COA will give us the report or talk to the department, but as of now we have no such report,” Herbosa said.

The COA said the purchase of medicine and medical supplies by the DOH exceeded the normal three-month requirement.

It said the drugs were procured despite the absence of recipients and lack of proper planning, monitoring and control on the use and distribution of the items.

Herbosa said the alleged expired drugs and medicine could have been purchased during the previous administration.

“The DOH doesn’t buy drugs that are about to expire. If there were medicine found to be expired, it must have been bought three years ago or before we assumed office,” he said.

The COA reminded the DOH of a rule that states that stocks on hand of supplies, materials and equipment spare parts acquired through ordinary and emergency purchase should not exceed the three-month requirement.

Herbosa gave assurance that they would look into the COA report and demand explanation from those who will be found involved in the alleged irregularity.

Records show that the 1,583 packs of medicine received by a certain hospital from the DOH in April and October 2009 were found to have expired almost two years ago.

It said the medicine had to be issued per pack and patients prefer to buy from stores outside on a per piece basis.

The COA said government hospitals should fast-track the distribution of drugs and medicine to beneficiaries so public funds would not be wasted. - With Mayen Jaymalin