MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo wants to investigate the wastage of billions worth of expired medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies procured by the Department of Health.
The senator filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the Commission on Audit (COA) findings to ensure accountability among officials responsible for the "mismanagement" of medicine stocks.
Tulfo said he sought the probe as he "constantly" received complaints on his radio program from patients about the lack of medicines in public hospitals or barangay (village) health centers.
COA said losses due to expired medicines and vaccines reached ₱18.5 billion from 2015 to 2018; ₱2.2 billion in 2019; ₱95 million in 2020; ₱85 million in 2021; ₱7.4 billion in 2022; ₱11.18 billion in 2023; and ₱134 million in 2024.
Tulfo raised the need to strengthen procurement, inventory and medicine distribution systems.
COA attributed the wastage to overstocking.