COA flags overstocked meds, poor catering services for BuCor inmates

The Commission on Audit has raised the red flag on the Bureau of Correction's (BuCor) overstocking of medicines worth P15.5 million and the poor catering services which endanger the health of inmates in the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) and the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW).

Based on its 2018 audit report, the COA said the inadequate planning and poor prioritization of the BuCor led to the purchase of drugs and medicines beyond the actual needs of the patients.

"Apparently, actual demand of patients were not considered in the procurement of drugs and medicines, resulting in excess procurement in the aggregate amount of P15,501,612.25. This is a manifestation of a clear disregard of the actual needs of patients or purchases of the same even without the need/basis to purchase," the COA said.

It said the purchase of drugs and medicines are classified as either high- or low-priority items, which are determined based on BuCor's current inventory and standard safety levels.

An example of the overstocked supply is the medicine Verapamil, wherein the BuCor Supply Section purchased 99,300 tablets in 2018, but only a total of 3,450 tablets were issued to inmate-patients for the whole year.

The COA, meanwhile, said the supply of various drugs and medicines worth P55.86 million purchased in 2017 and 2018 for the use of the NBP Hospital and the CIW and Reception and Diagnostic Center exceeded the three-month requirement.

The COA also flagged the delays in the public bidding and the process of awarding the contract to suppliers.

State auditors thus urged BuCor management to conduct public bidding within a reasonable time and prevent overstocking by ensuring its supply can only last for two months.

"We recommended that management undertake adequate planning and effective prioritization in its procurement and keep track of the movement of drugs and medicines to ensure safety stock levels and avoid excessive purchases," they said.

The BuCor gave no comment in the audit findings.

Catering services

Two of the three caterers of the BuCor-Main failed to comply with the requirements stated in its Food Subsistence Agreement (FSA) in 2018, according to the COA.

The caterers named in the audit are Aurora F. Sumulong Eatery and V & J Trading. These are all in charge of the food provision of inmates of NBP and CIW.

The COA said these caterers lacked FSA requirements such as a sanitary permit, the employment of a food compliance officer, health certificate of food handlers, and a pest treatment certification.

The COA urged the BuCor-Main to direct the NBP and CIW Superintendents to evaluate the performance of Aurora F. Sumulong Eatery and V & J Trading.

BuCor Management told auditors during the exit conference that Notices to Terminate were already issued to the caterers, requiring them to explain their food and safety requirement violations. — MDM, GMA News