DOH missed opportunities to improve healthcare system —COA auditor

The deficiencies in the Department of Health (DOH)’s utilization of P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds led to missed opportunities to improve the country’s healthcare system amid a state of national emergency, a state auditor said Tuesday.

In a congressional hearing, Commission on Audit (COA) Supervising Auditor Rhodora Ugay said the DOH could have done a lot with the funds that it was provided for its COVID-19 response.

“For example, the unobligated funds could have been used—the P11.89 billion—the utilization of this fund should have been imbued with urgency, considering that these are released purposely to address the state of emergency,” she said.

Ugay said the funds could have been used to procure ambulances, medical equipment and supplies, and personal protective equipment.

“These are opportunities to improve on our healthcare system that were missed because of the, maybe, delayed procurement or they were not able to fully utilize the funds provided to them,” she said.

“The 11.89 billion is not a small amount… It could affect the efficiency of the delivery of healthcare services,” she added.

In their 2020 report, state auditors flagged various deficiencies, including the transfer of P42.41 billion to partner agencies without a memorandum of agreement and other supporting documents, and P11.89 billion in unobligated allotments. 

The DOH, meanwhile, maintained that most of the major findings in the COA report have been resolved.  — BM, GMA News