Hundreds of thousands of medical devices purchased during the COVID-19 crisis now sit unused in warehouses across New York, lacking maintenance and costing taxpayers, according to a new audit from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
“Now, hundreds of thousands of unused devices sit idle,” DiNapoli said. “I urge the Department of Health to develop and execute a strategic plan for the maintenance and use of these and future medical equipment purchases, so New York is well prepared for the next public health emergency.”
The audit revealed the state spent $452.8 million to purchase 247,343 pieces of durable medical equipment (DME), including ventilators, oxygen tanks, and pulse oximeters, during the pandemic. Despite the large investment, only three of those items were used. An additional 51 items were received through donations or federal assistance. In total, just 324 devices from the entire emergency stockpile—both pre-pandemic and new—were distributed during the crisis.
Procurement decisions were made under emergency procedures inconsistent with the Office of General Services’ usual guidance, the audit found. Orders were influenced by projections made by a consultant working with the former Executive Chamber.
After the public health emergency ended, a Medical Stockpile Steering Committee recommended keeping 51,140 items and maintaining 4,468 of them. However, nearly 200,000 devices remain without a clear plan. Auditors reported the Department of Health (DOH) could not provide documentation showing how the committee reached its decisions.
Efforts to reduce the stockpile have been minimal. Some surveys were sent to medical facilities, which expressed interest in more than 24,000 items, but few were actually distributed.
The audit also flagged concerns about asset tracking and preventive maintenance. In a sample of nine credit card purchases, DOH could not verify delivery for four transactions totaling $312,644 and covering 140 devices. The report noted that the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the New York National Guard may have handled some of the logistics but did not confirm receipt of these items.
The audit highlighted that preventive maintenance for key equipment has fallen behind. A contract for inspections and repairs expired in December 2023 and had not been renewed by the end of 2024. As of December, 4,036 items were overdue for scheduled maintenance. The lapse could void warranties and lead to higher repair costs, while also risking equipment readiness in a future emergency.
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DiNapoli recommended the Department of Health maintain basic internal controls even during emergencies, keep clear documentation of key decisions, create a preventive maintenance strategy, and develop a plan to utilize surplus medical equipment statewide. The Office of General Services agreed with the one recommendation directed at them. The DOH also responded to the audit’s findings.
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