COA flags DOH for P7 billion in expired, undistributed drugs and items

State auditors flagged the Department of Health over P7 billion in medicines, and other inventory items that were found to be expired and undistributed.

In its 2022 annual audit report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said drugs, medicines, and other types of inventories amounting to P7,430,901,637 were expired, near expiry, damaged, overstocked, understocked, delayed, or undistributed.

Of these items, P2.3 million were expired inventories, P203.6 million were overstocked, P5 billion were slow-moving, and P1.5 billion were undistributed.

“The presence of overstocked and slow-moving inventory items evidenced excessive spending as the procured items comprised volume of inventory far more than what the Centers for Health Development (CHD) and OUs presently need,” the COA said.

The COA added that deficient procurement planning and poor distribution and monitoring systems resulted in “wastage of government funds and resources.”

“Overall, the problem exposed Management’s inability to safeguard, manage, and utilize health funds and resources economically and effectively,” it said.

Due to this, COA advised the DOH to direct supply officers to require guarantee letters from suppliers for deliveries with shelf life and report items that are about to expire for appropriate action.

It also called on the DOH to impose sanctions on erring suppliers for repeatedly violating the guidelines.

State auditors also noted that 1.6 million COVID-19 doses and 366,461 vials wasted nationwide. COA said there were also more than 11,000 COVID-19 vials were near expiry.

COA attributed this to the refusal of local government units and other implementing agencies to accept the vaccines due to abundance, lack of storage, low demand, late delivery, and preference for brands.

GMA News Online sought comment from the DOH on the matter, but the Health Department had yet to receive a response as of posting time. — DVM, GMA Integrated News