The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Health (DOH) for holding P34.8 million worth of expired and nearly expired drugs, with an additional P99.4 million in inventories at risk of wastage.
Auditors found that many of these unused medicines were not distributed or monitored properly across hospitals and DOH units nationwide, including Metro Manila, Visayas, Mindanao, and BARMM.
COA cited lapses in inventory monitoring, procurement planning, and reconciliation as key causes of the expiration issues.
The auditors also highlighted that the DOH violated its own guidelines and international standards, which require careful tracking of shelf life and proper distribution of donated drugs.
COA recommended, and the DOH agreed, to improve inventory management, procurement planning, and monitoring systems to prevent future waste and better utilize health resources.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 11, 2025
COA FLAGS DOH FOR P34.8M IN EXPIRED AND NEAR-EXPIRED DRUGS
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