DOH: Stockpiled drugs will be used

MANILA, Philippines - More than P10 million worth of “overstocked” medical supplies in various government health facilities will be properly used and accounted for, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

The DOH issued the statement following a Commission on Audit (COA) report that these government facilities overstocked on medicine and medical supplies worth P10.8 million.

Secretary Enrique Ona said the DOH is already implementing the COA’s recommendation.

“An inventory system has been developed to ensure proper monitoring of supplies and we are also reviewing the reason for the lapses so that proper administrative action can be taken,” he said.

Ona also clarified that only over P6 million worth of anti-flu drugs were found to be expired, contrary to the COA’s repot that P17.5 million in expired drugs were found in the stockrooms of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Batanes General Hospital, National Center for Mental Health and Center for Health Development-Bicol.

He said the bulk of the expired anti-flu drugs were procured in 2009 as part of preparations for a possible spread of the bird flu virus.