... Ministry of Health first on PAC agenda
MBABANE ± The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will kick off its session by demanding answers from the Ministry of Health.
As per the provisions of the law, the PAC serves as a check on government, especially with respect to its expenditure bill and its primary function is to examine the audit report of the Auditor General (AG).
According to a schedule issued recently, the PAC will begin its session on Tuesday and the Ministry of Health is first on the agenda.
As if understanding that the ministry has a lot to provide answers on, the schedule reflects that the PAC will be focused on the ministry for two full days.
The answers to be sought will be with regards to findings made by the Auditor General, Timothy Matsebula, in his annual report for the year ended March 2023.
In the report, the AG raised a lot of irregularities related to alleged misappropriation, misuse and unaccounted for funds.
Also, the AG tabled a forensic audit report into acquisition and distribution of medicines to public health facilities in the country.
The report detailed that there was an increase in expenditure of E345 146 948.92 in the procurement of the medical drugs for the nation. The procurement costs increased from E690 000 160.51 recorded in 2021 to E1 035 147 109.43 in 2022.
There was also an obsolete stock of E18.3 million recorded in the financial years ending on March 31, 2019 to 2022. In this context, obsolete means out of date.
The pharmaceuticals were procured for public health institutions including the Mbabane Government Hospital, Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital, Hlatikhulu Government Hospital, 5aleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, Mkhu]weni Health Centre, Nhlangano Health Centre and Siphofaneni Clinic.
The AG revealed that pharmaceuticals amounting to E151.6 million were either missing or unaccounted for.
In the financial years 2021 and 2022, the AG observed that there was missing stock of medicines and or unaccounted for pharmaceuticals amounting to E18 793 823.99.
MISSING STOCK
He mentioned in his audit report that the Ministry of Health acknowledged the missing stock of medical drugs which amounted to E5 848 589.89 as reported in the Medical Drugs Trading Account for the financial year ended March 31, 2022.
It was discovered that there was missing stock of E128 452.22 in the 2021 financial year.
He also observed that in the various health facilities visited, pharmaceuticals amounting E12 816 781.88, which were acquired during the financial years 2020 2021 and 2021 2022 were not accounted for.
The audit discovered drugs valued at E9 308 963.02 for Mbabane Govern
ment Hospital were unaccounted for.
The Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital did not account for pharmaceuticals valued at E2 283 688.91.
Siphofaneni Clinic did not account for drugs amounting to E111 089.08 and MpolonMeni Clinic had medical drugs valued at E45 990.19 unaccounted for.
³Pharmaceuticals were either not recorded in stock record cards or no stock cards to record the medicines maintained. Stock card balances and physical count balances were not tallying and shortages in stock received,´ reads the audit report.
RECEIVED AND PAID
Over the two financial years (2020 2021 and 2021 2022), the audit report states that pharmaceuticals to the value of E7 730 237.26 were received and paid for by the Central Medical Stores (CMS) even though their lifespan was shorter than 18 months.
:orth noting is that when presenting the %udget Speech in February this year, Minister of Finance Neal 5iMkenberg made it known that the health system had serious challenges with inherent structural weaknesses and capacity constraints.
The minister said the health sector had been struggling with an acute shortage of key inputs such as, human resources, procurement of drugs and medical supplies, security controls, fuel and hospital management, which have led to disruptions in providing essential health services.
He lamented that the drug shortage had a negative impact on patient care as well as significant financial implications.