COA probes DOH P63.7B missing COVID-19 funds

Updated: Nov 14, 2021

RED FLAGGED. “Wasted”, “Recurring Problem”, “Indiscriminate wastage of government funds and resources”. The Commision of Audit (COA) August 11, 2021 Audit report discovered the Department of Health’s (DOH) procurement of unused and expiring drugs and medicine worth PHP 95.15 M. ©Santos

The Department of Health is under investigation by the Commission on Audit for the loss of P63 billion worth of COVID-19 funds.

The COA found the DOH had purchased P95.15 million worth of medical supplies—P69 million idle or overstocked drugs and medicines, P20 million nearly expired drugs, and P6.6 million expired drugs.

“While it cannot be denied that there are a lot of Filipinos in need of drugs and medicines, especially in the countryside, millions-worth of DOH inventories were allowed to expire, thereby constituting indiscriminate wastage of government funds/resources,” the COA said on their audit report on Aug. 11.

A total of 29% of the DOH’s budget (P59 billion) was failed to be spent by the department.

The “indiscriminate wastage of government funds and resources” has put Health Secretary Francis Duque III under the microscope for excessive spending.