|
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Solon urges probe on P18-M drugs anomaly
By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Congressman Rey Aquino urged the Department of Health to conduct a deeper investigation into the reported expiry of P18 million worth of drugs and vaccines in the department's custody.
In a letter sent to health secretary Francisco Duque III, Aquino stressed that the incident caused a total wastage of the government's resources.
He said instead, the medicines purchased with government funds should have been used by Filipino masses that cannot afford to buy the medicines they badly need.
"The circumstances are regrettable, and merit a deeper inquiry in reference to the costs at stake," he said.
"The monetary figures released for the worth of the vaccines and medicines in question are notable, but there are underlying costs to consider in the revelation," Aquino said.
Aquino said the health department's investigation should ferret out and pinpoint the persons responsible for the incident.
"We urge your office to please identify the local officials neglectful of their duty in this case; second, probe further back to determine if the incident is confined to fiscal year 2004 only," Aquino said.
The solon also asked the health department to create a task force or committee with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Commission on Audit (COA) to probe the anomaly.
Recently, the health department ordered the investigation of officials accountable for the wastage of the expired vaccines that it failed to distribute to needy institutions.
According to the annual audit findings of the COA in 2004, the wastage included expired and about-to-expire vaccines and other medicines worth P18.18 million.
A three-man panel composed of officials from the health department's legal office was tasked to investigate on the 16 Centers for Health Development to identify officials responsible for the wastage. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
(November 27, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
15 gold medals set for first day of SEA Games