MORE than P70 million worth of medical equipment intended for the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) remains unutilized despite being purchased more than five years ago, with one delivery room table costing P1.6 million already damaged, according to state auditors.
This is the second time the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the City Government for unused medical equipment meant for the still-unfinished CCMC. The first instance was in 2023, involving more than P83 million worth of equipment.
The COA made the discovery following a site inspection at the CCMC on Feb. 13, 2025. At least 10 high-value machines remained unused as of Dec. 31, 2024.
The unutilized equipment includes one digital radio fluoroscopy system (P16,814,998); one digital floor-mounted X-ray (P7,787,000); two harmonic instrument sets (P3,175,000); a patient mobility lifter (P3,109,880); a medical washer and disinfection machine (P1,964,998); two ceiling-mounted surgical pendant systems (P4,359,996); a Holters machine (P2,499,995); a Trumpf delivery room table (P1,619,900); an infant incubator (P1,499,998); and a dental X-ray machine (P1,266,817).
Stored in a warehouse
All the equipment, worth a total of P70.9 million, is currently stored at the South Road Properties warehouse of the Department of General Services.
In its 2024 audit report, the COA said a stock officer from the CCMC and an engineer from the Department of Engineering and Public Works told auditors that the items could not be installed due to the “absence of or lack of suitable areas, rooms, or quarters” inside the CCMC.
The two employees said the equipment was intended for installation on the second and third floors of the hospital once completed.
The audit team also found that the City was still waiting for product demonstrations for four items, worth P7.6 million. These include the patient mobility lifter, a patient transport transfer trolley with leg spread, a Holter machine and an infant incubator.
One delivery room table was reported damaged after a sack of rice fell on it inside the warehouse.
The COA cited Sections 2 and 4 of Presidential Decree 1445, which hold the heads of government agencies responsible for safeguarding government resources and accountable for financial affairs, transactions and operations.
COA also noted that since more than four to five years have passed since the equipment was delivered, some items are now beyond their warranty periods.
State auditors said the Cebu City Government had earlier assured them that it would complete the hospital construction, install the medical equipment and deliver a fully operational CCMC before the end of 2024. / JJL