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P1M worth of expired meds, supplies found in Albay town


At least P1 million worth of expired medicine and other medical supplies were found unused and wasted inside the rural health office (RHU) of Bacacay town in Albay.

“Hindi ito makatwiran dahil marami ang nangangailangan na mga tao. Pwede sana tong maipantulong. Kasi halimbawa, kung sobra sa ating bayan, [ibigay] ito sa bang bayan,” said Mayor Edcel Belleza in GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolanda’s Jessica Calinog report on “24 Oras” on Monday. 

(This is unfortunate because the medical paraphernalia is needed by people. We could’ve donated it to other towns as well.)

The municipal government called on the Sangguniang Bayan to conduct a committee hearing on the issue. 

“Magkakaroon ito ng issue, hindi lamang sa mga na-expire na gamot. Pero pangalawa, sa proper disposal ng mga nagamit nang gamot,” Serio Antonio Alvarado, head of the municipal council committee on health, said. 

(We will conduct the hearing not only to investigate the expired medicine but also for the proper disposal of the equipment.)

RHU officer Dr. Merly Beltran explained most of the expired drugs were considered “non-essential drugs” that are not appropriate for use by the residents who consult the health office. 

Some of the medicines were also donated by private individuals and the Department of Health (DOH).

Beltran said they are awaiting a memorandum of agreement between the RHU and a waste disposal area in Daraga for the drugs and biohazard materials. 

She also said the RHU is open to face the committee hearing. 

Meanwhile, Belleza said the Bacacay government will hold accountable the individuals behind the medicine wastage. 

GMA Integrated News reached out to the DOH for comments. —Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News