DOH nagpaliwanag vs COA report: ‘Mga gamot naipamahagi na’

NAGPALIWANAG ang Department of Health (DOH) matapos punahin ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang P2.2-billion halaga ng expired at over- stocked na gamot na hindi raw naipamahagi ng ahensya mula 2019.

“The DOH responded to the issue that DOH has around P2.2 billion worth of expired drugs and medicines, and medical and dental supplies which have been taken out of context and circu- lated in news articles over the past two (2) days.”

Nilinaw ng ahensya na ang sakop lang ng COA report ay mga gamot ay buong 2019. Ibig sabihin, ang mga nabanggit na commodities ay binili sa pagitan ng Enero hanggang Disyembre ng nakaraang taon, at hindi kasali ang mga naging gastos ngayong 2020.

“Adding that the current status of the DOH Central Office figures is now different.”

Sinabi ng Health department na as of September 30, lahat ng malapit nang ma-expire na gamot at gamit na aabot sa P1- bilyong halaga ay kanila na raw na-distribute.

“Completely distributed be- tween the months of January- August 2020.”

Ang tinatapos na lang ngayon ay natitira pang P322-milyong halaga ng overstocked com- modities mula sa P1.1 bilyong alokasyon.

“As of September 2020, P815-million was already dis- tributed between January to Au- gust 2020. There is still ongoing distribution for the remaining balance of P 322-million whose expiry dates range from CY 2021 to CY 2023.”

Pati na ang nasa 840 dental kits na nagkakahalaga ng higit P166,000. Galing ito sa 63,250 na total ng procured dental kits.

“Only the fluoride toothpaste which is just one component of the dental kits are with expiry dates. Other components of the remaining 840 kits, specifically kiddie toothbrushes, and germicidal soap per kit are usable and were distributed and utilized.”

Bumuo na raw ang DOH ng hiwalay na opisina na mangangasiwa sa logistics ng mga bibilhing gamit at gamot.

Umaasa rin ang ahensya na sa pamamagitan ng Universal Healthcare Act at Mandanas ruling ng Supreme Court ay maipapasa na sa LGUs ang pagbili ng mga gamot. (Daris Jose)