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Elizabeth Marcelo - The Philippine Star
January 6, 2026 | 12:00am
In its 2024 annual audit report on the DOH, state auditors noted that several medical equipment units amounting to P405.545 million were procured by various DOH Centers for Health Development (CHDs) and state hospitals under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
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MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Department of Health (DOH) over P405 million worth of medical equipment procured in 2024, which were left idle or unutilized due to inadequate planning, defective parts and lack of trained personnel that can operate them.
In its 2024 annual audit report on the DOH, state auditors noted that several medical equipment units amounting to P405.545 million were procured by various DOH Centers for Health Development (CHDs) and state hospitals under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
As of end 2024, the procured equipment remained idle or unutilized, undelivered or uninstalled, “thereby impeding the timely enhancement of health care delivery in government facilities,” auditors said.
The COA said this was mainly “due to absence of a well-structured plan, lack of site readiness, delayed procurement actions and inadequate coordination and monitoring.”
Audit breakdown showed that the Western Visayas CHD was responsible for the bulk of the procured equipment, totaling P207.844 million covered by 186 contracts.
The COA said the equipment was not timely utilized due to the delayed start of procurement activities, as well as the delayed submission of the proposed list of equipment by end users.
Also called out was the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Ozamiz City for equipment worth P79.89 million, which remained idle due to “delayed delivery of certain components which are critical to the functionality of the entire system.”
State auditors said the assigned personnel lack training to operate the equipment.
CHD Ilocos Region, meanwhile, was called out for the procurement of P40.876 million worth of equipment despite lack of a well-structured plan and inadequate coordination with recipient hospitals.
As a result, the COA said hospital sites were not ready to accommodate the equipment.
Other state hospitals and CHDs identified in the audit report were Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija (P34 million); Labuan General Hospital in Zamboanga City (P21 million); Batangas Medical Center (P12.88 million); Soccsksargen General Hospital in Surallah, South Cotabato (P7.665 million) and Mega Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center at Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (P1.388 million).
