More than 1m vaccine doses expired – Auditor-General
The Auditor-General’s report said that section 83 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) requires the head of the procurement entity to assemble a Survey Board that includes representatives of the department that has useless stores that will report the goods and subject to technical reports in them, recommend the best way of disposal.
The report noted that 1,022,348 vaccine doses received at the National Cold Room and issued to user facilities have expired in various Districts and Regions.
According to the Auditor-General, the Program Manager explained that the vaccine was a vaccine donation that was sent to him nearing expiration.
The vaccine can be accidentally/wrongly issued among those who are healthy for vaccination which can pose a public health threat to the country.
“We recommend that the Director of the Department of Public Health should ensure that vaccines are disposed of safely,” said the Auditor General.
Management responded that as part of public health measures, the vaccine was not stored in a cold room to avoid accidental releases among safe vaccines.
They were further removed from the Cold Room and transported to the Regional Health Directorate for destruction as per standard operating procedure (SOP).
Management also indicated that as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) and in accordance with the law, management is working with a team consisting of the Food and Drug Authority, the Ghana Health Service, Health Partners including WHO and/or UNICEF), Environmental Health. departments of the relevant Local Government, Environmental Protection Agency and other departments to dispose of expired vaccines.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana
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