Some issues in relation to uneconomical spending and loss of revenue and equipment in the Health Ministry has been raised in Public Accounts Committee report on the 2007 Auditor General's Report.

The committee said at the Lautoka Hospital, the Mercer Autoclave Machine had broken down since 2003 and although the machine had undergone a number of repairs, it had remained out of order.

The total cost of the repairs so far was $10,895.

The Accounts Committee has revealed that the Health Ministry has also failed to enforce a section of the Quarantine Act and did not charge the aircraft agents for the services provided by the health inspectors.

It said to make matters worse, the Ministry was incurring a lot of money paying for overtime and meal allowances to its officers, who are required to service the movement of aircraft.  

A major issue has also been raised in relation to the purchase of vehicle tyres.

It has been established that there were no stock or tally cards maintained for tyres at the Labasa Hospital prior to November 2007.

According to an internal investigation, it has been revealed that there was no proper recording of receipt and issuance of tyres by the store-man.

Orders to private companies were also issued without verifying whether tyres were available at the Government Supplies Department.

It was also noted that only 25 tyres were confirmed to have been fitted on official vehicles.

The whereabouts of 51 new tyres were not known.


Story by: Vijay Narayan