‘Being repurposed already’: DOH defends P152-M ‘idle freezers’ flagged by COA


 

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DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa / ARNOLD QUIZOL / MANILA BULLETIN / file 

The Department of Health (DOH) defended the P152 million worth of freezers flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) for being idle, saying they can still be used for storing other vaccines, medicines, and blood products.

 

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa explained that the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines and their storage facilities was done during an emergency, where uncertainties required stockpiling.

 

“Ang Covid vaccine kasi isang emergency. So there were uncertainties during that time. Ang problema naman diyan kasi ina-apply nila iyong rules for National Immunization for common vaccines to Covid. Mali po iyon (The Covid vaccine was an emergency, so there were uncertainties during that time. The problem is that they are applying the rules for the National Immunization Program for common vaccines for COVID. That is incorrect),” Herbosa said in an ambush interview on Thursday, Jan. 30.

 

He said the expiration of some vaccines should not be a concern, as many were donated, while others were procured to ensure high vaccination rates.

 

“Because in an emergency, mag-iipon ka talaga kasi uncertain noon. So maraming nag-expire, walang problema ‘yan kasi marami doon dinonate din, marami doon binili, at mataas talaga ang vaccination rate natin (Because in an emergency, you really have to stock up since the situation was uncertain at that time. So many expired, but that’s not a problem because many were donated, many were purchased, and our vaccination rate was really high),” he said, noting that 74 million Filipinos received an average of three doses of Covid vaccines.

 

The DOH chief assured that the flagged freezers would not go to waste, as they are already being repurposed for other medical uses.

 

“Hindi [masasayang ang freezers]. Kasi magagamit mo rin siya as freezers of other things. You can use it for other vaccines, or other medicines that require that kind of storage. Nagagamit din sa blood products. There are some blood products na ‘yan ang kailangan (The freezers won’t go to waste because they can still be used for other things. You can use them for other vaccines and medicines that require that kind of storage. They can also be used for blood products, as some of them need that specific storage condition),” he stated.

 

Herbosa noted that the units are “probably being repurposed already,” as many laboratory items require storage at specific temperatures.

 

Earlier, the COA flagged the DOH over P152 million worth of ultra-low temperature freezers that remained idle as of last year, citing concerns over the wastage of public funds.

 

The freezers were procured for the Covid-19 vaccination program, which required specific storage conditions, particularly for mRNA vaccines.

 

In its report, COA called on the DOH to ensure that these storage units are fully utilized and properly maintained to prevent further losses.