{"id":25610,"date":"2022-12-22T22:23:32","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T03:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=25610"},"modified":"2022-12-30T09:03:15","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T14:03:15","slug":"auditor-general-chides-health-ministry-for-bad-record-keeping-in-covid-19-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/auditor-general-chides-health-ministry-for-bad-record-keeping-in-covid-19-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Auditor general chides health ministry for bad record keeping in COVID-19 response"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Jamaica<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\"><strong id=\"strong-1\">The Auditor General\u2019s Department (AuGD) says the ministries of health and wellness (MoHW) and labour and social security displayed good practices in the face of enormous pressure during the novel coronavirus pandemic, but failed in some areas of procurement and records management, with the MoHW paying out hundreds of millions, without a paper trail.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">In a COVID-19 expenditure audit compliance audit compendium report on the ministries tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis stressed that it was important to create a balance between effective response and maintaining good procurement and record-keeping practices \u201csince emergency spending is believed to be susceptible to misuse and corruption\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">Among the issues pinpointed was a lack of transparency in payments for COVID-19 quarantine facilities, in which $337 million was paid to seven hotels and guesthouses for providing quarantine accommodations, but the ministry only provided evidence of a formal contract with one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">\u201cThe six service providers, without a formal contract, were paid a total of $293 million. In the absence of formal terms and conditions, MoHW was exposed to unbudgeted liability claims and varying payment arrangements, in a context where one service provider unexpectedly asked MoHW to pay the facility\u2019s electricity bill and 90 per cent of water charges,\u201d Monroe Ellis outlined.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">Monroe Ellis said the ministry advised that as part of the Cabinet-approved managed controlled re-entry programme to govern to the country\u2019s opening of its borders, it was directed to establish arrangements with private entities such as hotels and guest houses for the mandatory quarantine of people entering the country, in an extremely short timeframe which did not allow for negotiation of formal contracts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">The report noted that the MoHW also paid out $124 million to eight suppliers for infrastructural works done as part of response activities, between January and June 2020, without contracts in place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">The Government auditors also raised concerns about the MoHW\u2019s transfer of $174 million to the Ministry of Local Government, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and a non-government organisation, without the requisite approval of the finance ministry. \u201cGiven that MoHW indicated that it did not obtain any authorisation to execute the transfer, the action raises a greater concern over the use of funds allocated for the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d the auditor general said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">\u201cWe also noted that the MoHW did not report to the National Contracts Commission (NCC) the justification for engaging the contractors using the direct contracting methodology,\u201d the auditor general advised.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">The ministry\u2019s explanation is that its acceptance of contractors\u2019 letters of quotation forms a binding contract between the two parties, and that the exigencies of the pandemic required these works to be done at short notice, within short timeframes, which didn\u2019t allow for formal contracts, as is the normal practice. The auditor general advised that subsequent to her investigations, the health ministry reported all emergency contracts to the NCC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__body\">At the same time, the ministry spent $189.21 million to purchase fixed assets, which it said was to support its COVID-19 response efforts, but Monroe Ellis said her department\u2019s review of a sample of fixed assets purchased totalling $55 million found that the ministry spent $2 million on the purchase of 45 televisions and 15 tablets, but did not indicate on the purchase records the reasons for acquiring these devices. Consequently, the auditors said they were not able to determine how these items related to the COVID-19 response.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamaicaobserver.com\/news\/millions-without-a-trace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>image: Injection-drugs-bottle-ampoules<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jamaica The Auditor General\u2019s Department (AuGD) says the ministries of health and wellness (MoHW) and labour and social security displayed good practices in the face of enormous pressure during the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":11315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[250],"tags":[139,124],"class_list":["post-25610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-healthcaremedical","tag-jamaica"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Injection-drugs-bottle-ampoules-syringe-medical-health-Marco-Verch-Professional-Photographer-and-Speaker-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-6F4","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27852,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/covid-cash-clash\/","url_meta":{"origin":25610,"position":0},"title":"Covid cash clash!","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"May 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Jamaica The\u00a0health ministry's spend of more than $619 million in the COVID-19 period, up to March 2021, without proper records and procurement management triggered a clash between Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis and permanent secretary in the ministry Dunstan Bryan at Tuesday's meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Bryan,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-miguel-a%CC%81-padrin%CC%83a%CC%81n-806427-scaled-e1663282852423.jpg?fit=1024%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-miguel-a%CC%81-padrin%CC%83a%CC%81n-806427-scaled-e1663282852423.jpg?fit=1024%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-miguel-a%CC%81-padrin%CC%83a%CC%81n-806427-scaled-e1663282852423.jpg?fit=1024%2C681&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-miguel-a%CC%81-padrin%CC%83a%CC%81n-806427-scaled-e1663282852423.jpg?fit=1024%2C681&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36398,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/p-s-u-calls-for-removal-of-auditor-general\/","url_meta":{"origin":25610,"position":1},"title":"P.S.U. Calls for Removal of Auditor General","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"September 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Belize During Friday\u2019s protest in front of the Prime Minister\u2019s Office in Belmopan, the President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers called for the removal of the auditor general. He contends that an audit of the Department of Lands and the procurement process within the Ministry of Health and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5566,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/guyanas-public-financial-management-action-plan-part-i\/","url_meta":{"origin":25610,"position":2},"title":"Guyana\u2019s Public Financial Management Action Plan (Part I)","author":"Michele Marius","date":"May 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In our article of 23 April 2018, we discussed\u00a0Guyana\u2019s Budget Transparency Action Plan\u00a0(BTAP) that the Government had developed in 2015. The Plan contains 14 action items, of which advancing of the accountability cycle is perhaps the most important item. Once this action is fully achieved, the Government will be able\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News\/Developments&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/know-the-rules-chalk-board-geralt-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/know-the-rules-chalk-board-geralt-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/know-the-rules-chalk-board-geralt-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/know-the-rules-chalk-board-geralt-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20658,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/auditor-general-some-progress-on-recommendations-but-concerns-remain\/","url_meta":{"origin":25610,"position":3},"title":"Auditor general: Some progress on recommendations but concerns remain","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"February 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Cayman Islands \u00a0 The Office of the Auditor General has found that government has responded to the majority of recommendations made by Parliament\u2019s Public Accounts Committee on the basis of three audit reports. In a\u00a0first follow-up report, released last week, the auditor general tabulated that 76% of the 61 recommendations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26890,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/covid-19-procurement-breaches-come-into-focus-at-pac-meeting\/","url_meta":{"origin":25610,"position":4},"title":"COVID-19 procurement breaches come into focus at PAC meeting","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"March 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Guyana Following an audit report over breaches in relation to COVID-19 purchases, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee [PAC], Jermaine Figueira, has recommended that the Ministry of Health make recommendations for the amending of the Procurement Act 2003 to include emergency acquisitions and improved regulations. Figueira made the recommendation yesterday\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-cottonbro-studio-3951628-scaled-e1679011883996.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-cottonbro-studio-3951628-scaled-e1679011883996.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-cottonbro-studio-3951628-scaled-e1679011883996.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-cottonbro-studio-3951628-scaled-e1679011883996.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1091"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25610"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25708,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25610\/revisions\/25708"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}