Minister for Health Elias Kapavore was the centre of attention in parliament recently over procurement processes for medical supplies.
He was bluntly told by Northern Governor Gary Juffa that the health procurement system was being corruptly managed.
Governor Juffa used an example from his province, where a male nurse allegedly received K600,000 to build a transit warehouse for medical supplies but failed to deliver.
He said: “The Health issue is your corrupt procurement system, causing unnecessary stress. In 2013, the Health Department paid K600,000 to a male nurse operating a building company in Oro, to build a transit warehouse.
“I reported this to the Ministry but nothing was done. This man has also been on the payroll for five years, but is not working. When will the (medical) transit house be completed? And will police be involved?”
Governor Juffa was also concerned about the type of medical consumables being delivered to health centres.
“And who is this company tasked to deliver consumables that are not relevant to certain areas? For example, delivering electric beds to aid posts in areas that have no electricity?”
Minister Kapavore assured the governor he would look into both issues.
“I admit we have issues in this area. We are getting recommendation from development partners on this, and we will move forward.”
Minister Kapavore said there are currently 22 transit medical stores, and 4 area medical stores.
“We will be getting reports from these establishments as well. K250 million has been budgeted for medical supplies, and medical drugs are procured by the World Health Organisation in PNG, for the public health system.”
Meantime, Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu asked the Minister to also look into the procurement arrangements made by board members of the provincial hospital.
“In 2017, some hospital board members left their duties to contest the elections. The Health Minister then was advised to select a board, but the office of the CEO facilitated that on its own. Can you investigate the process involved in this selection, and the procurement arrangements that this board has already made?”
Minister Kapavore assured the governor he will revisit the process involved in electing the sitting hospital board.
“If there was an illegal selection of the board members, then that means the procurement arrangements are null and void.”
(Northern Governor Gary Juffa)