December 7, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin yesterday blamed the previous administration’s health secretary for the multibillion-peso vaccines that expired unused.
Garin issued the statement after a report was released by the Commission on Audit (COA) showing that P11 billion worth of drugs, medicines and medical supplies have expired without being utilized.
This includes 7,035,161 vials of COVID-19 vaccines.
“This incident seen by COA was due to the weak leadership and management of the DOH (Department of Health) during the previous administration,” Garin, a former health secretary herself said.
Garin said program directors should monitor the usage of these medical-related items to ensure that no vaccine and medicines would be wasted again.
“They keep on conducting inventory at the warehouse. There must be accountability in whoever is the implementing department of the DOH. There must be close coordination and once it is purchased, it should be used immediately and not rush when it is about to expire,” she said.
Previously, Garin questioned Health Secretary Ted Herbosa for the lack of vaccines which caused the death of some people.
“Many are dying due to pertussis and you are out of vaccines. Many have worms, but you have many expired praziquantel. You purchased a lot of medicines, but [these are] being buried because [these] expired,” she said.
In 2023, COA also reported that DOH’s stock of medicines and other inventories amounted to P7.43 billion.
This amount includes medicines that are damaged, nearing expiration date or have already expired.
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