The Sunday Mail
Itai Mazire
Sunday Mail Reporter
HEALTH and Child Care Ministry officials spent US$1,3 million on obsolete, unusable medical equipment. The equipment was bought under Government’s Targeted Approach initiative meant to boost health delivery.
In her 2013 report, Comptroller and Auditor-General Mrs Mildred Chiri said: “The ministry received non-functional medical equipment valued at US$1 369 850 under the Targeted Approach, and as result service delivery was greatly affected.
“There was lack of due care and diligence in handling of the equipment by ensuring that all the equipment is tested for efficiency before being accepted to be taken to stores.
“The medical equipment received but not in working condition is as follows: 11 Jujxin ventilators valued at US$825 000; one Response 920 Chemistry analyser valued at US$249 000; one Gestat blood gas analyser valued at US$155 000; three Edan multi-parameter monitors valued at US$86 250; and two Surton flash diathermy machines valued US$50 600.
“There is risk that service delivery could be greatly compromised and there is need that officials should ensure that proper testing is done on delivered medical equipment before being accepted and put into custody.”
These revelations come on the backdrop of another scandal in which provincial hospitals prejudiced Government of over US$5 million via dodgy tenders, according to a 2013 a forensic investigation by the National Economic Conduct Inspectorate (NECI).
The funds were also drawn from the Targeted Approach programme.
In response, Health Ministry officials said suppliers would rectify the problem.
Mrs Chiri said a stock inspection at Chinhoyi Hospital showed donated medical equipment was not recorded in registers.
“In view of the fact that the ministry failed to submit the return for Gifts, Legacies and Donations, the probability of loss due to lack of accountability is high.
“If donations are not recorded in the register, it would be difficult to ensure accountability as some of the equipment could either get lost without being detected or converted to personal use,” she noted.
Mrs Chiri said Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital had lax internal controls, resulting in theft of essential drugs worth over US$100 000.
“These losses were attributed to lack of segregation of duties, lack of supervision and poor maintenance of records for medicines. Service delivery at the hospital is compromised as patients may fail to get medicines.”
Hospital management said the matter was now before the courts.
