300 boxes of antibiotics left to expire in Asturias

Over 300 boxes of antibiotics that were supposed to be distributed to indigent patients were allegedly left to expire in the stockroom of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Asturias town, Cebu.

Municipal councilor Joel Dumdum said they already passed a resolution in the council last week calling for an investigation on MSWDO chief Zenaida Cortes who allegedly stored the more than 300 boxes of antibiotics and 50 tubes of tetracydine ophthalmic drops in the stockroom, left there to expire, when the items could have benefited a number of indigents.

Dumdum said the antibiotics expired this month while the tetracydine ophthalmic drops expired last January. According to Dumdum, Cortes turned over the expired medicine to Municipal Health Officer Ivar Arellano last Monday.

He also said that members of the municipal council were surprised to have found out several boxes of antibiotics were left to expire in the custody of Cortes, when several indigent patients asking for the medicines were reportedly turned down, saying stocks have run out of supply.

Dumdum also questioned why Cortes kept the medicine when the items were supposed to be in the custody of the municipal health officer. Further, he alleged that the MSWDO has distributed expired medicine to some indigent patients in Asturias.

Dumdum said one of those who were given expired Amoxicillin was Emelita Tingal of barangay Looc Norte. He added that the seven-month-old son of Tingal suffered severe vomiting after taking the expired medicine.

The FREEMAN tried to call Cortes yesterday, but she is reportedly on vacation in Baguio.

Dumdum said that the expired medicines are part of the Early Child Development Program of the national government wherein the municipal government of Asturias had allocated P6 million as counter-part. - Fred P. Languido