COA flags over P550M DOH expenses as irregular

The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged over P550 million in expenditures by the Department of Health (DOH) and its regional offices as irregular, unnecessary, or excessive.

In Cebu City, COA noted that Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), a major public hospital for COVID-19 patients, spent P2.1 million on hazard pay for unqualified personnel who did not report to work.

COA also found irregularities in other regional DOH offices, such as the Davao Regional Medical Center, where over P2 million was spent on hazard pay for 134 employees who were absent from work.

Additionally, COA reported that the DOH had transactions totaling P45.85 billion lacking complete documentation and failed to spend P59.12 billion of its budget in 2020.