Sen. Raffy Tulfo has filed a Senate resolution calling for an investigation into the Commission on Audit findings on billions of pesos in expired and unutilized medicines and vaccines procured by the Department of Health from 2018 to 2024.
In Senate Resolution No. 403, Tulfo called for stronger systems in procurement, inventory and medicine distribution after repeated COA reports highlighted deficiencies at the DOH.
Tulfo cited patient complaints about shortages in public hospitals and barangay health centers. He listed COA-reported losses including P18.5 billion from 2015 to 2018, P7.4 billion in 2022 and P11.18 billion in 2023.
The 2024 COA audit found P34.8 million in expired items and P99.5 million nearing expiration due to overstocking. Tulfo said accountability must be established and responsible officials identified.