The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Public Hearing conducted by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday came up with the resolution requiring the agencies under the health ministry to resolve unresolved audit irregularities pertaining to 2009 to 2013.
The committee raised six issues pertaining to 2009 and 2013, and as of 18 August 2016, four issues are reportedly said to be resolved by the ministry.
During the public hearing issues on non-deposit of revenue collection by one of its employees in 2012, and also a similar case of non- deposit of revenue collected by another employee with the ministry was raised.
The employee who was terminated from the service without gratuity is known to have died before the issue was resolved, which PAC now requires the health ministry, RAA and finance ministry to resolve jointly, to bring to a closure for the particular issue in future.
Similarly, PAC pointed out seven issues in 2014 pertaining to medical supplies by the Department of Medical Supplies.
Committee raised issue on the cost differences in the prices of medical supplies in 2014 amounting to Nu 31.27828 million (mn) and the advances of Nu 31.449 mn lying outstanding against its officials.
The department has allotted the third lowest bidder in procuring medicines where PAC pointed out issue on price variation and monopoly practice in bidding process.
As per PAC, the agencies are required to resolve all the unsettled audit irregularities of 2009 and 2013 by 30 March 2016, and other irregularities to be resolved within 12 months from the date of audit memo issued and submit the report to the implementation status to Royal Audit Authority.
However, PAC pointed out that the issue for 2009 to 2013 is still prevailing and yet to be resolved by the ministry.
The Public Hearing was conducted in accordance with Section 23 of the Rules of Procedure of the Public Accounts Committee 2015, and is based on the resolution of the 6th Session of the Second Parliament.
