KUALA LUMPUR – Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reported today that the government bore some RM505 million worth of losses over 8.5 million doses of expired Covid-19 vaccines.
The committee’s report published today showed that the loss is shouldered by the government despite the vaccines’ expiry date, which fell on June 1 this year, being extended by 18 months.
The PAC report added that the Health Ministry procured vaccines based on the projected amount required.
However, there has been a decreased demand for vaccination, as well as delays in receiving vaccine supplies purchased and donated from foreign countries.
The PAC report showed that the Health Ministry had initially acquired over 83.3 million vaccine doses, of which 88% (72.8 million) had been administered.
The ministry had justified the amount purchased based on its projection of the number of Covid-19 vaccines required at the time.
However, there were 8.5 million doses left with a June 15, 2023 expiry date. On June 1, the ministry extended the expiry date of the doses by another 18 months.
PAC’s report said the ministry’s deputy secretary-general for finance, Datuk Seri Norazman Ayob, had outlined five steps taken by the ministry to reduce vaccine wastage.
This included donating 1.89 million vaccine doses of various brands to countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Other steps included promoting booster shots by raising awareness on social media and through community engagement sessions.
PAC’s report also included a statement by the ministry’s pharmacy deputy director for pharmacy policy and strategic planning, Nur’Ain Shuhaila Shohaimi, that the ministry is waiting for the Finance Ministry’s greenlight to dispose of the expired vaccines.
The committee recommended that the ministry’s procurement officer must ensure that the public interest is prioritised during emergency procurements and that procurement documentation must be done with due diligence. – October 30, 2023