Wednesday, August 01, 2007 DOH orders group to probe Sotto deals
THE Department of Health (DOH) 7 has tasked its Integrity Development Committee to look into the controversies involving the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) as contained in a report by state auditors.
DOH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said the inquiry is in response to the verbal order she received from Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
The committee is headed by Dr. Elaine Teleron, chief of the DOH 7 Technical Division and the resident ombudsman of the agency.
Madarieta also visited VSMMC Chief Gerardo Aquino Jr. Monday afternoon.
“I just wanted to inform him that there is a committee from the office that will gather facts...para dili mahibung ba,” Madarieta told Sun.Star Cebu.
“He welcomed the investigation to clarify everything,” Madarieta said of Aquino’s reaction to the investigation.
She added that some issues raised were already answered and there are measures already done to address them.
The task of the committee is to validate if there were indeed actions taken and if the recommendations raised by COA in its report for 2006 hospital operations were taken up.
DOH 7 has direct line supervision and monitoring over the VSMMC, although as to hospital operations, the government hospital is on its own. It has its own budget from the Department of Budget and Management and has its own bids and awards committee.
The COA audit report stated how VSMMC lost over P100 million of projected income over laboratory examinations done outside the hospital and on budgetary allocations spent on purchases like ready-made bed sheets, which hospital seamstress and utility workers could have made at over half the price.
The amount also covered the procurement of other medical equipment, on top of the P48-million loss on hospital dormitory operations.
State auditors further noted that the VSMMC spent almost P80 million in public funds for various procurements in 2006, but only transactions worth over P13 million underwent public bidding.
“We will address everything,” said Madarieta, when asked which among the issues will be the agency’s priority.
This is the first time that the DOH will conduct an investigation on the government hospital based on COA’s findings.
Madarieta said previous investigations conducted by the agency at the VSMMC were based on complaints of some clients.
This time around, Duque has been prompted by the controversy.
Madarieta admitted that the investigation may take a long time because of extensive issues addressed in the report. She will submit an update to the secretary though, from time to time.
On criminal and administrative charges that may be necessary, she said this would be up to Duque.
“The instruction was only on fact-finding. I don’t know what happens after the report will be submitted to the secretary,” said Madarieta.
She, however, stressed that VSMMC was able to help a lot of people and save a number of lives. She hopes that the investigation will not affect VSMMC’s services.
Madarieta also assured the public that there will be no whitewash in the investigation.
“Whoever will be answerable, I’m sure the appropriate action will be taken by the DOH,” Madarieta added. (JGA)
