The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged down the Department of Health (DOH) over the lapses in the COVID-19 vaccination and the low utilization of its funds.
In its 2021 audit report on the DOH, the COA noted that 32,724 wasted COVID-19 shots and 12,854 vials of nearly expired vaccines mostly in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Zamboanga, Soccsksargen, and the Cordilleras.
"The delays in the administration of these vaccines may increase the probability of losing its efficacy and ultimately may result in wastage of government resources," the auditors said.
The DOH, meanwhile, explained to the auditors that wasted vaccines had a shorter shelf life of 6 months.
In the same report, COA also noted how the DOH failed to legally spend over PHP 6.6 billion in COVID-19 funds for 2021. There was also more than PHP 23.6 billion in COVID-19 funds left undisbursed.
"The low utilization thereof can be counter-beneficial to the continuing efforts of the DOH towards ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos and controlling the spread of COVID- 19," the audit team said.
However, the DOH management told the COA that causes of low utilization of funds included cancellation and failure of procurement, failed bidding, delays in the signing of memoranda of agreement, and delivery of products not in accordance with specifications, existing health restrictions, and protocols.
There were also deficiencies found in the distribution of 180 mobile X-ray machines for COVID-19 response worth PHP 55.2 million due to inadequate needs assessment. Some hospitals identified as beneficiaries refused to receive the X-ray machine.
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and another DOH hospital were cited as identified recipients and had to turn down the machines because of lack of space and existing units of the same equipment, respectively.
"The refusal of the said OUs to receive the equipment despite their inclusion in the distribution list gives the impression that these recipients were not properly consulted by the DOH prior to the procurement," the audit team said.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency is now in the process of straightening out the findings with COA.
