DOH: Distribution of nearly expired, overstocked medicines ongoing

MANILA, Philippines — The distribution of P2.2 billion worth of nearly expired and overstocked medicines, as well as medical and dental kits procured by the government is ongoing, the Department of Health assured Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the assurance 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 are nearly expired.

She said COA’s report covers medicines procured from January to December 2019, and the DOH has distributed some of the medicines from January to August 2020.

“Sa kasulukuyan, nakapag-distribute na tayo ng lahat ng near expiring medicines amounting to more than P1 billion,” Vergeire said.

(So far, we have distributed near expiring medicines amounting to more than P1 billion.)

“Lahat po yan, we were able to distribute from January to August 2020, ongoing pa rin ‘yung distribution noong ibang commodities na natitira sa aming warehouse,” she added.

(We were able to distribute all of that from January to August 2020. The distribution is ongoing.)

There is only P322 million worth of overstocked medicines that are remaining and are yet to be distributed, the Health official said.

The DOH is eyeing to finish the distribution until the end of the year.

“Ongoing pa rin ‘yung distribution namin. Kasama yan sa schedule until the end of the year,” she said.

(The distribution is ongoing. That is included in our schedule until the end of the year.)

She likewise explained that the items that were tagged as expired are dental kits containing toothbrushes and soap, which do not actually expire.

Vergeire said the DOH was able to distribute 98.6% of the dental kits with 840 still to be distributed.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the DOH to expedite the distribution of nearly expired medicines.

/MUF