DOH chief to probe report on idle hospitals

MANILA, Philippines - Health Secretary Enrique Ona said yesterday he would look into the report of the Commission on Audit (COA) that some P42.6-million worth of equipment and other facilities in various state hospitals are not being used.

Ona said although he has not read the COA report, he had already summoned the directors of hospitals concerned to shed light on the issue.

The COA report showed that properties have not been used due to incompatibility with other machines or equipment, defects and lack of manpower training, resulting in “foregone revenues,” waste of government funds, and non-delivery of efficient services.

The report cited the P9.6-million unused fire safety and protection project equipment of the Philippine Orthopedic Center.

Others are the laboratory equipment for processing of histopath specimens at the Tondo Medical Center worth P7.1 million; a freezer, dishwashing machine conveyor, oven steam convection, tilting kettle, ice-making machine, bulk food conveyor, microfilm camera, planetary desktop, microfilm processor and a Minolta printer at the San Lazaro Hospital that cost P4.1 million.