The Auditor General’s report for 2022 says that $725m in drugs and medical supplies were still outstanding at the end of August this year.
In the report tabled in the National Assembly yesterday, it was disclosed that the largest outstanding amounts to be delivered are from Western Scientific at $438m, New GPC Incorporated at $137m and Meditron at $100m.
The report said that in September 2023, the ministry submitted stores received and delivery notes for drugs and medical supplies valued at $133.6m. The audit office said that it is in the process of validating the deliveries.
The ministry in responding to the findings of the audit office said that in addition to space constraints it is the normal practice in the health supply chain to expect changes in delivery times for medicines and supplies after contracts are signed, due to unexpected demand patterns as a result of pandemics, natural disasters and profiles of illness. Therefore, it said that the ministry had staggered the deliveries to suit current needs.
The audit office’s recommendation was that the head of the budget agency take action to ensure that suppliers of drugs and medical supplies honour their contractual obligation.
The outstanding supplies were from a total of $9.58b in payments.
In addition, the audit office report said that there were outstanding deliveries of $132.3m for the year 2021 as of the end of August this year. Western Scientific accounted for $96m of this amount and New GPC, $35m. In September this year, the ministry submitted stores received and delivery notes for drugs and medical supplies valued at $23.2m and the audit office said that it is in the process of validating them.
