GOVERNMENT auditors have found P199.67 million worth of expensive medical equipment purchased by the Department of Health (DOH) regional offices and Centers for Health Development (CHDs) that are not being used, not yet delivered, or delivered but not operational.
The Commission on Audit (COA) said the public is deprived of quality health services and maximum benefit from the resources of the national government while the new equipment acquired under the Hospital Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) are not delivered or just gathering dust.
“The main goal of HFEP is to improve the delivery of basic, essential, as well as specialized health services… was not attained due to the deficiencies in the implementation of the procurement of medical equipment,” the COA said.
Inspection made by the audit team showed the idle equipment were found in DOH Region 6 under Western Visayas CHD (P35.85 million), DOH Region 3 Central Luzon CHD (P25.15 million), DOH Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (P24.001 million) and Cordillera CHD (P8.16 million), DOH Region 13 Caraga CHD (P9.593 million), and DOH NCR San Lazaro Hospital (P9.64 million).
At the NCR CHD, the audit team learned that the equipment was procured even if not yet needed supposedly “to ensure that there is a reserved equipment” should the need arise, citing delays in the procurement process when needing replacement.
At the CAR BGHMC, auditors found that the computed tomography scan machine was installed at the Trauma Center Building even before the structure was completed, hence has remained non-operational while losing value through depreciation.
One to three years after delivery, medical equipment at the Central Luzon CHD remain in storage since the Molecular Laboratory has not secured a license to operate.
In Western Visayas and Caraga CHDs, the site identified for installation of the new equipment were still not ready.
On the other hand, the undelivered or uninstalled hospital equipment were intended for DOH Region 3 at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (P74.622 million) and Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital (P9.16 million), in DOH Region 6 Western Visayas CHD (P2.34 million), and DOH Region 2 at the Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center (P1.156 million).
Auditors said the hospital under DOH Region 3 failed to include a provision for penalties for every day of delay, which means the suppliers are not being obliged to perform the deliveries promptly.
“The non-attainment of the goal displayed the poor strategic planning and inadequate monitoring by the CHDs and operating units (OUs),” the COA said.
It added that this is contrary to the policy that all resources of the government should be utilized in accordance with the law and safeguarded against loss or wastage.
In reply to the audit observations, the head of the BGHMC informed the COA that the contractor has offered assistance in speeding up the completion of the Trauma Center Phase 3.
For its part the Central Luzon CHD called on hospitals with idle medical equipment to transfer them to other health facilities or local government units. Likewise, provincial health officers were instructed to provide technical assistance and conduct monitoring of HFEP projects.
The JBLMGH said its accounting unit had already imposed and deducted penalties against the payment due its suppliers with delayed deliveries.
For its part, the Western Visayas CHD said that as of July 2023 various medical equipment were already being used while there are others need repairs.
