Herbosa sued over P1.4 billion expired meds, vaccinesMANILA, Philippines — A group of “concerned Department of Health personnel” has filed a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and 16 other officials over the alleged wastage of P1.4 billion worth of medicines and vaccines. They claimed that P68 million worth of medicines had already expired, including 1.2 million cycles of family planning drugs and psychiatric injectables, P1.3 billion worth of undelivered vaccines and 1.6 million tables of HIV antiretrovirals. The medicines ended up as “dead stock” as they remained in the national warehouse and were not distributed to regional health units. Herbosa and two other ranking health officials are also facing graft, as well as administrative cases for alleged conflict of interest in their roles as radio anchors while serving in a government agency. Apart from this, Herbosa, along with three health officials and employees, were accused of graft and violation of the procurement law for allegedly rigging the purchase of mobile primary care facilities worth P1.8 billion.

Source: Philippine Star March 31, 2026 16:45 UTC