By Ric Obedencio | 07:28 PM March 02, 2024
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa described the letting of medicines to expire is a “mortal sin.”
Herbosa, who was in Bohol last Friday, was referring to the medicines in bulk procurement found by Commission on Audit (COA) to have expired.
He said his department is looking into and to fix it.
He said in his travel around the country to gather information on the health care situation he found that there are a lot of problems facing the health sector, particularly on the procurement system.
He said that he’s planning to launch the Bagong Urgent Care for Ambulant Services (BUCAS) for rural health units for primary health care in the country-sides.
Just recently, provincial Board Member Dr. Romulo Cepedoza, health committee chair, started the investigation in aid of legislation on P1.8 million used in bulk procurement of drugs for four government hospitals be investigated in aid of legislation.
The medicines were purchased in bulk in 2022 in the total amount of P1,845,124.52 by Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital (GMPH) in Talibon town; Cong. Teodoro B. Galagar District Hospital (TBGDH), Jagna town; Cong. Simeon Toribio Memorial Hospital (CSGTMH), Carmen, Bohol; and Catigbian district Hospitals (CDH), Catigbian town.
TBGDH loss amounted to P985,195.93; CDH, P453,233.17; CSGTMH, P400,155.19; and GMPH, P6,540.23, Cepedoza said.
Cepedoza said that the expired medicines mainly based on the Commission on Audit (COA) report and identified the aforesaid hospitals.
All four hospitals which were devolved from the national government are owned and managed by the provincial government.
Cepedoza cited COA’s findings: “Management (refers to hospital management) procured its drugs and medicines for six-month period departing from the three-month requirement ceiling under section 361 of Republic Act 7160 attributable to the incorrect implementation of bulk procurement approach resulting in total actual loss from expiration of P1,844,124.52 and exposure to risk of further spoilage and expiration in the subsequent periods.”
Cepedoza said that the approach (6-month period procurement) “directly contravenes the three-month requirement of R. A.. 7160,” even if it may answer the need of drug availability being procured. (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
