The Commission on Audit (COA) has uncovered more than ₱134.3 million worth of expired and nearly-expired medical supplies under the Department of Health (DOH), calling it evidence of the agency’s failure to manage public health resources responsibly.
In its 2024 audit report, COA noted: “Drugs, medicines, and other inventories were found expired or nearly-expired with a total value of ₱34,825,702.20 and ₱99,461,477.71, respectively due to deficiencies in inventory management system that affected procurement planning, distribution and monitoring of inventories.”
Auditors said overstocking and poor oversight led to wastage that could have supported health programs in underserved areas.
The Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development posted the highest losses, with almost ₱19.1 million in expired items and ₱18 million nearing expiration due to “weakness in the forecasting and planning of inventory stocking.”
At the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan, over ₱35.9 million worth of supplies were close to expiry and more than ₱200,000 had already expired because of its “failure to monitor expiration dates.”
The Batangas Medical Center also recorded ₱3.5 million in expired stocks and ₱22.5 million in items near expiry.
COA further flagged ₱99.5 million in unused and undistributed supplies—violating Section 2 of Presidential Decree 1445, which mandates the protection of government assets against waste.
The findings come as Filipino households continue to shoulder high medical costs. The Asia Care Survey by Manulife (2024) reported that 45% of health expenses in the Philippines are paid out of pocket, despite 95 million Filipinos being covered by national health insurance—burdening families already grappling with inflation.