PAC gives Health Ministry 2 months to explain Covid procurements

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has given the Health Ministry two months to respond to five suggestions in its report that revealed irregularities in government procurements during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

PAC chairperson Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said a letter will be sent to the ministry on the matter, after which a subsequent report will be released.

“After the PAC holds a feedback proceeding (with the ministry), another follow-up report will be tabled in Parliament that will contain the ministry’s response to PAC’s suggestions,” the Masjid Tanah MP said during a press conference with other PAC members today.

Among others, the PAC in its report on Oct 30 highlighted the absence of a contractual agreement for the purchase of 136 ventilators through a local pharmaceutical giant.

This effectively prevented the government from initiating legal action to recover losses from 104 faulty ventilators the Health Ministry received in 2020.

The PAC also revealed that the government sustained RM505 million in losses due to expired Covid-19 vaccines. The amount involved some 8.5 million vaccine doses which expired by June 1 this year.

“In every issue investigated by the PAC, two reports will be published, the first which contains the PAC’s summary and suggestions on the issue.

“Following that, the PAC will table a second report that contains ministries’ feedback to PAC’s suggestions,” said Mas Ermieyati today.

Earlier this morning, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the ministry noted the PAC’s suggestions in the report.

“All the suggestions by the PAC, we take note and take necessary actions for future improvements, particularly in the procurement process.

“I’m also confident we can take a sterner and more efficient approach to ensure proper procurement procedures, even during times of emergency,” said Zaliha at a press conference in Parliament.

Aside from recommendations to the ministry, the PAC in its report took note of circumstances surrounding the pandemic which caused a global shortage of medical equipment.

This then led to competition between countries to procure life-saving tools.