Leadership and sound financial controls resulted in the Department of Health obtaining unqualified audit opinion from Auditor General. An unqualified audit report is a "clean bill of health" that an auditor delivers to an organisation. This type of report means the auditor did not detect any significant internal control breakdown during his examination.
The achievement happened after a vigorous fight to address all the reported findings that led to qualification last financial year and effective implementation of the audit recommendations. The focus has now shifted towards obtaining clean audit opinion.
“The department made every attempt possible to improve efficiency and value for money, with a strong commitment to reduce wastage and ineffective spending. We endeavour to improve on payment of creditors within 30 Days.
“We will continue to work hard in addressing all other matters of emphasis as a contribution towards “Provincial clean audit 2014 project,” MEC Dr Magome Masike said after receiving the audit report.
The Auditor General highlighted few issues like payment of creditors, procurement and management of contracts; and unauthorised expenditure as matters that need urgent attention.
Plans are already in motion to ensure areas that were highlighted in the audit report are attended to. Extensive resources have now been put behind payment of suppliers especially pharmaceutical supplies since they are biggest consumer of the departmental allocation.
Procurement and contract management is in the best interest of external parties or service providers, as a result more hands and technical knowhow are being employed to ensure that the department does not fall a pray to dubious manoeuvres. The department has for this financial year allocated responsibilities to the lower level staff to assist procurement processes and contract management.
The department has been allocated R7.6 billion this financial year to improve health and life expectancy of the people of the North West Province.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Provincial Health spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
