MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Department of Health (DOH) to expedite the distribution of nearly expired medicines after the Commission on Audit (COA) revealed that some P2.2 billion worth of medicines and medical supplies of the DOH are either overstocked, expired or nearly expired.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the DOH explained that P1.2 billion worth of medicines are nearing expiration while those already expired are worth only P30 million.
“Ang expired na gamot daw na hawak ng DOH ay umaabot lamang sa P30 million. Bagama’t mayroon silang mga P1.2 billion na mga overstock or slow moving or idle, hindi pa po expired at mayroon silang mga around P1.2 billion na near expiry,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing Tuesday.
“So, ang mandato po ng Presidente sa DOH lalung-lalo iyong mag-i-expire na, paki-distribute na po ng hindi masayang at iyong mga overstock at slow moving naman po ay ilabas na po natin sa ating mga warehouse ng magamit ng ating kababayan,” he added.
Earlier, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto castigated the DOH for wasting taxpayers’ money, saying that there are “48 billion reasons on why the DOH needs to be vaccinated against wasting medicines.” [ac]