koninklijke philips nv said wednesday that sales for the last quarter of the year were below its expectations blaming global supplychain shortages and the postponement of customer equipment installations the dutch healthtechnology group said group sales for the fourth quarter of 2021 are expected to be about 49 billion euros 557 billion around eur350 million below the companys previous expectations for the year sales are now expected to fall 1 on a comparable basis to eur172 billion group adjusted earnings before interest taxes and amortizationone of the companys preferred metrics which strips out exceptional and other oneoff itemsis expected to be eur650 million making eur21 billion for the year philips said it expects to book eur420 million of charges for the quarter a rise of eur315 million from previous estimates still the company said its comparable order intake grew 4 in the fourth quarter with doubledigitgrowth in the diagnosis  treatment businesses we are closely working with suppliers and governments to address the shortages in the healthcare supply chain and ensure they recognize the importance of prioritizing lifesaving medical equipment chief executive frans van houten said