The Department of Health (DOH) has launched an investigation into the oversupply of medicines that was reported by the Commission on Audit (COA), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.
Based on its 2018 audit report on DOH, COA said the department has overstocked drugs and medicines amounting to P18.4 billion, with some of the stock medicines about to expire.
“I have already ordered our legal services office na imbestigahan. Bakit nagkaganoon?” Duque said in an interview.
Duque said the problem may be due to lack of reforms and available warehouses amid the growing budget of the DOH.
“Noong panahon ko, P10 billion lang ang budget namin. Eh biglang after my term naging P170 billion eh hindi naman lumaki yung warehouse. Hindi naman nagbago yung kanilang planning,” he said.
“Kung kailangan mo [ng warehouse] ngayon, tatawag ka, papa-bid mo. Eh hindi naman basta-basta available,” he added.
Due to this, the distribution of the medicines was delayed.
Duque said they will make reforms in the department to ensure that medicines are being distributed on time.
Regarding the oversupply, Duque explained some medicines were unused because only few regional offices and local government units request for them.
“Kasi ang gamot parang insurance din yan. Kung hindi siya magagamit, ibig sabihin hindi nagkasakit yung tao. Will you take it against the DOH na may natira?” Duque said.
The DOH secretary said they already established a procurement and supply chain management office to focus in planning, procurement, distribution and storage of stock medicines.
