Discrepancies in use of Luigi's PDAF

CEBU, Philippines - A new system will be in place in the utilization of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Sixth District Rep. Luis Gabriel Quisumbing after a fact –finding investigation showed discrepancies in the disbursement of medicines by some personnel at the Eversly Child Sanitarium and Hospital in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City.

The Department of Health (DOH) conducted the investigation after no less than Quisumbing’s office found some questionable prescriptions.

The fact finding committee wanted to find out how Quisumbing’s PDAF was utilized. The committee itself found ‘questionable’ computations in the allocation of the funds.

The investigation found around 245 ‘dubious’ prescriptions some hospital employees committing lapses in the performance of their official duties and responsibilities.

The investigation report showed that three personnel at the pharmacy department headed by Pyr Jakosalem, chief pharmacist, and two of her pharmacy aids, Gay Pacunla and Eden Madis, committed acts contrary to the provisions of the Generics Law, Civil Service Law and the Code of Ethics of Public Officials and Employees.

Findings showed that, among others, the three have dispensed drugs and medicines allegedly without the medical officer’s signature in the prescription. They also allegedly dispensed medicines without the approval of the PDAF coordinator.

The three also were allegedly lenient in dispensing drugs and medicines amidst discrepancies of drugs being dispensed in bulk like in boxes or bottles. Some prescriptions reportedly contained medications for both adult and pediatric patients while in some others, the name of the patients and the quantity of medicine was reportedly altered. Others prescriptions still were reportedly issued for the retired hospital personnel, regular hospital employees and their relatives.

Investigation also showed that Quisumbing’s PDAF coordinator Gina Semblante and a certain Caridad Borbon allegedly falsified documents and committed acts contrary to the practice of medicine.

The investigation report stated that there might be some lapses on the part of the Eversly management because Dr. Joanri Riveral, the OIC Chief of Clinics, allegedly failed to direct that a separate account for the PDAF should be made to aid the management in proper internal control. Felixberto Eltanal, the Chief Administrative Officer of Eversley, also allegedly failed to monitor the proper disbursement of the PDAF.

With the result of the investigation, both Quisumbing and Dr. Lope Ma. Carabana, the newly installed chief of Eversly, agree that a new system must be put in place to avoid such incidents in the future.

Quisumbing said a staff from his office will be assigned at the hospital to attend to the needs of the patients, as far as assistance using his PDAF is concerned. The usual practice was that the hospital had to ask his district office for referral so that a patient could avail of services and medical assistance through his PDAF.

Having a staff from his office at the hospital, he said, will save the patient’s family unnecessary expenses in going to his district office.

Despite the findings of the fact finding committee, Carabana said he could not initiate legal action against those found to have allegedly committed violations because the committee did not recommend the filing of charges. What he can do for now, he said, is to implement changes, including a retraining of all hospital personnel.

A Memorandum of Agreement was entered into for the undertaking, but Carabana said the same could no longer be traced after the hospital changed administrations. The former hospital chief also died early this year. Hopefully, he said, Quisumbing’s office can find its copy of the agreement.  (FREEMAN)