Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has called for an urgent investigation into the alarming ₱11 billion worth of expired medicines and vaccines found in Department of Health (DOH) warehouses and health facilities, as flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA). 

Lee filed House Resolution No. 2117 to hold those responsible accountable and address systemic issues in the DOH’s procurement and logistics.

“The expiration of these medicines and vaccines is not just wasteful but a betrayal of public trust,” Lee said. “Millions of Filipinos struggle to buy medicines, yet billions of pesos worth of essential health supplies are left to expire unused. This is a gross dereliction of duty.”

The COA report revealed that over 7 million COVID-19 vaccine vials, along with other medical supplies, expired due to poor procurement planning and distribution systems. An additional ₱65.44 million worth of medicines with short shelf lives are also nearing wastage. Lee described these lapses as “clear dereliction of duty and a violation of their mandate” and emphasized the need for Congress to ensure public health resources are efficiently utilized.

The solon also called for a comprehensive DOH report detailing the status of expired supplies and the measures taken to address the issue. “This must not be swept under the rug. Accountability is non-negotiable,” Lee stressed.

#AccountabilityNow #HealthcareForAll #WiseLeadership