The Commission on Audit disclosed on Monday that it has discovered at least P39.27 million worth of medical equipment in several hospitals in the province of Ilocos Norte remained idle and unutilized.
According to a 2022 report by the state auditor, the equipment was discovered during an examination last November, of which 11 were found in the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital and two more at the Bangui District Hospital.
According to CoA, types of equipment that are idle and unutilized violate Section 2 of PD 1445, depriving the supposed beneficiaries of their immediate and full use.
Discovered at the GRBASMH were three infant ventilators valued at P21.255 million, a bacterial identification and susceptibility machine worth P5.4 million, a microscope for P2.15 million, four dialysis machines donated by the Department of Health worth P6.58 million, an operating room table worth P798,000 and an A1C self-analyzer for blood tests worth P548,500.
A cardiac monitor with a defibrillator valued at P1.54 million and a defibrillator monitor at P996,000 were also discovered at the BDH.