MANILA — House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin blamed the previous administration’s Department of Health (DOH) head for the expired vaccines and medical supplies worth billions of pesos, as revealed in a recent Commission on Audit (COA) report.
The COA disclosed that over ₱11 billion worth of drugs, medicines, and medical supplies, including 7,035,161 vials of COVID-19 vaccines, had expired without being utilized.
“Itong mga nangyari at nakita ng COA ay dahil sa weak leadership at management ng Department of Health noong nagdaang administrasyon,” Garin emphasized.
To prevent such wastage, the Iloilo lawmaker suggested that program directors take responsibility for monitoring the usage of vaccines and medicines to ensure they are properly utilized.
“Kung sino ang program director, pagkabili ng mga bakuna at gamot, obligasyon mong ipagamit kaagad at i-monitor ito,” she stated, adding that program directors who fail to perform their duties should be removed.
Garin also called for greater accountability within the DOH’s implementing departments, particularly in warehouse management.
“Doon sa warehouse, imbentaryo sila ng imbentaryo, dapat doon may accountability kung sino ang implementing department ng DOH. Dapat may close coordination na kapag binili na dapat nang gamitin hindi kung kailan pa-expire na ay doon pa lang magkakandarapa na i-implement,” she added.
Previously, Garin criticized Health Secretary Ted Herbosa for vaccine shortages, which she claimed led to deaths and other health issues.
“Ang dami ngayong namamatay sa pertussis, stock out kayo sa bakuna. Ang dami ngayong may mga bulate, ang dami niyong mga nag-eexpire na praziquantel. Ang dami niyong mga binibiling gamot, nililibing siya kasi nag-eexpire,” she pointed out.
In 2023, the COA similarly reported that the DOH had ₱7.43 billion worth of medicines and other inventories, including items that were damaged, nearing expiration, or already expired.
