The Audit 2020-21 report published on 29th March has scrutinized the expenditure of ministries and parastatal bodies. In the case of the Ministry of Health, the National Audit Office has highlighted a Rs 198 million shortfall in the Quarantine requirements and a Rs 16.5 million loss on a double order of flu vaccines, 56,900 doses out of the 150,000 doses had to be discarded due to expiry. A number of irregularities and incomprehensible payments have been uncovered by the NAO.
Rs 198 million without invoices
For the period March to October 2021, the Ministry had stated that it had disbursed Rs 455 million. Claims for reimbursement of Rs 259 million were still outstanding as at 31 October 2021. Of the approximately Rs 205 million paid for quarantine fees in June 2021, invoices for payments totaling Rs 198 million have not been received. This disbursement of Rs 198 million has been used in quarantine facilities but has not been certified by the quarantine Medical Health Officers, cross-checked with the Disease Control Unit database or cross-checked with the Communicable Diseases Control Unit (CDCU) Register. 36 people in quarantine, according to the Register for Reimbursement, were checked for identity, attendance and length of stay by the NAO at the CDCU, but there was no return. The Ministry replied that there were no discrepancies and that the Finance Department was informed not to make any payment for the discrepancies found around the quarantine days counted against those claimed.
Unclear allocations
An allowance of 10.6 million was paid to 16 doctors for working 100 days in quarantine centers and one doctor in particular, who allegedly worked 226 days in a row. The number of days allowed is between 14 and 21 days. No evidence of their services has been found. There are also concerns about the identities of 14 nurses, who were supposedly on duty! It was also noted that a nurse stayed in a quarantine center continuously for 92 days from October 3, 2020 to January 3, 2021 and the department paid Rs 920,000 for his stay. The MTPA director replied that it was a reduced rate of Rs 10,000 per day!
Delay in signatures
The audit report also mentions delays in signing contracts between the 24 quarantine centers and the Ministry. 14 of them did not have their contracts by October 2021 but were already in operation and being paid. The report reveals a total amount of Rs 43.7 million made before the contracts were signed.
Caterers treated too well
Still on the subject of quarantine, the report points the finger at this department for disbursing a sum of Rs 7.5 million to three caterers for providing daily meals in the three free quarantine facilities. But they charged different rates and the Minister did not identify whether the rates were justified and reasonable. The Ministry of Health replied that the Ministry of Tourism selected the service providers in accordance with the Public Procurement Act and its guidelines.
Local purchases at 17 times the price
The audit report also mentions local purchases by hospitals of listed and unlisted drugs at a cost of Rs 19.1 million. The NAO investigation revealed that these listed drugs cost 17 times more than those purchased by the Ministry. The Ministry responded that these drugs were purchased from the same suppliers but at a price, six times higher and cited inaccurate data from EIMS, the informatised management system.
Other highlights
The report also talks about general medical negligence, especially in relation to Covid 19, high priced equipment for some hospital wards, some doctors of interest as well as other unclear compensation to third parties and unstructured collaborations that weighed in by several million rupees. It also talks about non-compliance with the protocol on quarantine facilities for doctors and nurses.
Among the highlights of this report on the Ministry of Health, we also have the unnecessary expenditure by the Ministry of Social Security approved by the Ministry of Health. It is accounted for that Rs 16.5 million representing a surplus of an order of 56,900 doses of flu vaccines whose expiry date was December 2021.
The NAO’s mission is to focus on financial reporting, procurement and project management, contract administration, revenue management, expenditure control and compliance with the laws and regulations in force in the country. It is reported by the agency that 30% of government ministries and departments have not submitted their annual reports to the audit office. The organism reported that government expenditure rose from Rs 189.6 billion in 2019-20 to Rs 297.3 billion in 2020-21. As for Ministry of Health, actions have been initiated for the 16 major problems that and 3 other serious problems will be fully investigated and sanctioned.
