DOH investigating Pharmally's alleged face shield tampering

The Department of Health (DOH) said it is investigating allegations against Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation that it tampered with manufacturing dates of medical-grade face shields for health workers.
" investigating reports of suspected tampering of manufacturing dates of face shields procured from the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation," the DOH said in a statement on Friday, Oct. 1.
"Upon the directive of the Secretary of Health, the Department is conducting a comprehensive review of procurement transactions which includes inspection of incoming or currently housed stocks of PPEs procured from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation either directly or indirectly through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM)," it added.
Pharmally has delivered more than 500,000 pieces of face shields, the department said. The DOH, however, noted that it "has not yet paid" Pharmally "since it is yet to complete the deliveries of the procured face shields."
“We are fast-tracking our investigation on the face shields delivered to the DOH and if those are the ones being referred to in the Senate hearing. If the face shields are proven to be tampered with, we would definitely take necessary legal remedies," DOH Undersecretary Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande.
"The DOH assures that prior to sending out any procured items for use by our healthcare workers, these are duly inspected. Likewise, health facilities have to inspect, count, and verify the items they received from the DOH,” she added.
Grande noted that the DOH decided to "suspend acceptance and further deliveries of face shields from Pharmally, pending the conclusion of the investigations in the Department."
"We are aware of the statements made by Pharmally employees about the tampering of the production date on the certificate," she said.
"Out of prudence and caution, the DOH has decided to suspend the succeeding deliveries to protect the interest and safety of our healthcare workers," she added.
In a recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Pharmally Executive Krizle Grace Mago admitted that her company tampered with the expiry dates of face shields they delivered to the government.