A legislative inquiry into the Department of Health’s (DOH) alleged mismanagement of billions of pesos worth of expired, near-expiry, and unutilized medical inventories accumulated between 2018 and 2024 is being sought at the Senate.
Through Senate Resolution No. 403, Senator Raffy Tulfo called for a thorough investigation following persistent red flags raised by the Commission on Audit (COA). The proposed inquiry seeks to hold accountable the officials responsible for these systemic lapses and to overhaul the agency’s procurement, logistics, and distribution frameworks.
Tulfo highlighted the stark irony between the massive stockpiles rotting in government warehouses and the daily struggles of low-income Filipinos who are consistently denied access to basic healthcare resources.
”While millions of marginalized Filipinos continue to face difficulties in accessing free vitamin supplements and maintenance medicines for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension in barangay health centers and public hospitals, medicines and medical supplies procured using public funds are reportedly being left to expire in DOH warehouses and health facilities rather than reaching their intended beneficiaries,” he said.
The lawmaker filed the resolution after receiving a barrage of grievances on his public service program from citizens who were turned away from barangay health centers and state-run hospitals due to a lack of available medicine. Tulfo asserted that individuals found negligent in managing these life-saving resources must face stringent administrative and criminal charges.
According to COA data cited in the resolution, the financial losses from expired or mismanaged medical supplies are staggering:
- 2015–2018: ₱18.5 billion
- 2019: ₱2.2 billion
- 2020: ₱95 million
- 2021: ₱85 million
- 2022: ₱7.4 billion
- 2023: ₱11.18 billion
- 2024: ₱134 million
The state audit body’s 2024 report specifically pointed out that ₱34.8 million worth of medical inventories had already gone to waste, while an additional ₱99.5 million worth were on the verge of expiration.
COA attributed the wastage to flawed procurement planning, poor monitoring, and chronic overstocking.
With prescription drugs remaining one of the heaviest out-of-pocket expenses for Filipino households, Tulfo emphasized that the Senate probe—conducted in aid of legislation—is vital to rectifying these systemic distribution bottlenecks and ensuring public health funds are utilized efficiently.