DOH flagged over P134.3-M of expired, almost expired medicines

Over P134.3 million worth of drugs, medicines, and other medical supplies in the Department of Health (DOH) have been found to have expired or are close to expiring, with some remaining undistributed as of 2024, resulting in wasted government resources, findings by the Commission on Audit (COA) showed.

A review of last year’s inventory report revealed that drugs, medicines, and medical supplies from various Centers for Health Development (CHD), with an aggregate amount of P34.82 million, were left unused in some government hospitals until they expired, leading to wastage. 

Under DOH Administrative Order 2016-0008, medicines and drugs beyond their expiration date should be disposed of, as these may be unsuitable for use, and there is no guarantee that the quality of the products is maintained.

Audit findings further revealed that other forms of medical inventories to the tune of P99.47 million were also found unutilized and undistributed, in violation of Section 2 of Presidential Decree 1445, which mandates safeguarding all government resources against loss or wastage.

State auditors found that some of these medicines had expired due to, among others, excess supplies or overstocking, with the resources “could have been better used to support health programs for the poor.”

“Overstocked or slow-moving drugs and medicines are exposed to the risk of possible wastage,” the COA said. “Furthermore, maintaining excessive supplies entails additional costs to the government in terms of manpower and warehouse space.” 

Of the P134.3 million in 2024, the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan accounted for the biggest chunk of expired and almost expired drugs and medicines, with P200,178.46 and P35,881,849.63, respectively. 

This was attributed to the failure of the hospital to strictly monitor the expiration dates, in violation of the DOH Warehouse Operations Manual, which mandates the proper management of health supplies and counter check of the expiry dates of drugs and medicines.

A total of 1.75 million in expired drugs and medicines was also logged at Valenzuela Medical Center, while 9.88 million in near-expiry was found in CHD in Ilocos Region. 

In Batangas Medical Center, 3.41 million worth of drugs and medicines had expired, while 24.45 million were almost expired. 

Eastern Visayas CHD likewise recorded a total of 19.14 million and 18.04 million expired medicines and drugs, while Western Visayas CHD had 12.11 million of near-expiry medical items.

The Southern Philippines Medical Center, the largest state hospital operated by DOH, also logged 7.46 million in expired drugs and medicines.

This is not the first time that the COA flagged the DOH over millions, if not billions, of expired medicines, despite the need of many underprivileged Filipinos for free medication.

It has been a recurring concern that state auditors have raised against the department over the years, yet it remains unaddressed.

In 2023, over P11.2 billion of expired drugs and medicines, including 24,539 bags of donated dialysis solutions and over 7.03 million vials of Covid-19 vaccines, were found to have expired in its warehouses and health facilities. 

Meanwhile, in 2022, the auditing body also discovered more than P7.43 billion in expired, almost expired, damaged, and undistributed medicines

These are only some of the many recurring expired medicines reports issued by COA against DOH.