Senator Joel Villanueva raised significant concerns about the Department of Health (DOH) after presenting audit reports showing a shocking 11,656.32% increase in wasted healthcare products from 2020 to 2023. The data revealed that wastage surged from ₱95 million in 2020 to a staggering ₱11.186 billion by 2023.
Villanueva questioned the DOH’s handling of public funds, emphasizing that these were essential medicines that should have been made available to Filipinos. He asked what measures the department was taking to prevent further waste, particularly since these funds were meant to serve the public.
In response, Senator Pia Cayetano, the DOH’s budget sponsor, explained that the sharp rise in wastage, particularly in 2023, was mainly due to the stockpiling of COVID-19 supplies.
She described the situation as a “natambakan” or surplus of goods, a reality created during the height of the pandemic. Cayetano assured that the DOH was actively working to improve its asset management and supply chain systems to prevent future wastage and better utilize resources.
Villanueva also raised concerns about the proper disposal of expired medicines, pointing out that there is little awareness among the public about the correct procedures. Cayetano acknowledged this issue, admitting that she wasn’t sure if even a small percentage of households were familiar with how to dispose of expired medications properly.
Echoing her concerns, Villanueva questioned the public’s awareness, remarking that he doubted even a fraction of the population knew about the prescribed disposal process.
