By Dave Charles Responte
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bohol will conduct an investigation on the expired and wasted medicines procured by four hospitals owned by the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh).
The issue was raised by Board Member Romulo Cepedoza, the president of the Liga ng Barangay Bohol Chapter and the chair of the SP Committee on Health and Public Sanitation, in a privilege speech during the regular session of the SP presided by Vice-Governor Dionisio Victor Balite on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Board Member Cepedoza cited a Commission on Audit (COA) report that revealed the procurement of medicines worth P1,845,142.52 by the four PGBh-owned hospitals in 2022.
The hospitals under investigation are Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital (GMPH) in Talibon, Teodoro B. Galagar District Hospital (TBGDH) in Jagna, Cong. Simeon G. Toribio Memorial Hospital (CSGTMPH) in Carmen, and Catigbian District Hospital (CDH) in Catigbian.
According to the COA report, the four hospitals had the biggest budget in 2022 and were selected for an audit conducted from November 10 to 23, 2023.
The state auditors found that the hospitals had incurred a total loss of P1,845,124.52 from the expiration and wastage of medicines.
COA report showed that TBGDH had a total loss of P985,195.93, CDH had a total loss of P453,233.17, CSGTMH had a total loss of P400,155.19, and GMPH had a total loss of P6,540.23.
The report stated that “Management procured its drugs and medicines for six-month periods, departing from the three-month requirement ceiling under Section 361 of Republic Act No. 7160, attributable to incorrect implementation of bulk procurement approach, resulting in total actual loss from expiration of P1,845,124.52 and exposure to risk of further spoilage and expiration in the subsequent periods”.
The report also noted that the hospitals justified their departure from the three-month requirement ceiling by implementing a bulk procurement system per semester, following the Bids and Awards Committee procedure, which allowed them to purchase medicines up to 50 percent stock or as needed in case of emergency.
There is a need to balance the risk and concern of expiration and wastage of medicines, according to the COA report.
Board Member Cepedoza said that the investigation is necessary to ferret out the truth and prevent the recurrence of such issue in the hospitals owned by the PGBh.
The issue raised by Cepedoza was referred to the Committee on Health and Public Sanitation for investigation in aid of legislation.