Dennis Gasgonia

Department of Health Headquarters in  Manila.  Jonatha Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - More than P134.3 million worth of medical supplies from the health department have expired or were close to expiring, which “exposed the agency’s inability to safeguard, manage and utilize health funds and resources economically and effectively,” according to the Commission on Audit. “Drugs, medicines, and other inventories were found expired or nearly-expired with a total value of P34,825,702.20 and P99,461,477.71, respectively due to deficiencies in inventory management system that affected procurement planning, distribution and monitoring of inventories,” the COA’s 2024 audit report read. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/4/coa-gov-t-lost-p6-45b-in-2024-from-unusable-or-idle-dpwh-projects-1308">COA: Gov’t lost P6.45B in 2024 from ‘unusable or idle’ DPWH projects</a></div>The audit body said overstocking caused some supplies to expire, which deprived health programs in low-income communities of resources.Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development recorded the most wastage in supplies, with almost P19.1 million worth of expired items and P18 million close to expiring due to its “weakness in the forecasting and planning of inventory stocking.”This was followed by Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan City, which had P35.9 million worth of items near expiry and more than P200,000 in supplies that expired caused by its “failure to monitor expiration dates.”Meanwhile, Batangas Medical Center had P3.5 million in expired supplies and P22.5 million worth of items close to expiration.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/2/coa-flags-p14-4-m-unsettled-expenses-from-presidential-trips-1141">COA flags P14.4-M unsettled expenses from Presidential trips</a></div>State auditors reported that P99.5 million in medical inventories also went unused and undistributed, in violation of Section 2 of Presidential Decree 1445, which requires agencies to protect government resources from waste.According to the Asia Care Survey by Manulife in 2024, 45 percent of health expenses in the country were paid out of pocket.It added that many families already struggling with rising inflation face high medical costs despite 95 million Filipinos being covered by the national health insurance system.

More than P134.3 million worth of medical supplies from the health department have expired or were close to expiring, which “exposed the agency’s inability to safeguard, manage and utilize health funds and resources economically and effectively,” according to the Commission on Audit.

More than P134.3 million worth of medical supplies from the health department have expired or were close to expiring, which “exposed the agency’s inability to safeguard, manage and utilize health funds and resources economically and effectively,” according to the Commission on Audit.

COA flags DOH over mismanagement in expired, near expiry medical supplies

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COA flags DOH over mismanagement in expired, near expiry medical supplies

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 04, 2025 07:36 PM PHT

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