The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of Bangladesh unearthed 21 financial irregularities, involving Tk 683 million, in procurement of medical equipments for Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital (ShSMC) in the capital in the fiscal year (FY) 2019-20.
Of the 21 financial irregularities, 20 were marked as serious financial irregularities, involving Tk 383 million, and one non-serious financial irregularity, involving Tk 298 million.
The CAG sent the audit objections on December 06 last year. The Ministry of Health asked the hospital authority on January 19 to send an answer to the audit objections within seven days.
Of the 21 objections, the CAG noted that medicines were bought for ShSMC at higher-than-MRP prices - incurring a loss of Tk 2.89 million, MSR (X-ray film) at an overrated cost - incurring a loss of Tk 5.04 million, and work order was given without signing contract with supplier and goods worth Tk 299 million were collected.
It caused a loss of Tk 12.19 million for procuring MSR at an overrated cost, Tk 4.76 million for procuring medical supplies from vendors at high prices than market rates, Tk 15.6 million for procuring extra MSR equipments, and Tk 0.52 million for not deducting VAT.
Besides, it caused a loss of Tk 1.54 million for not following TEC recommendations and violation of work order in collecting goods, no account of procuring MSR equipments, disposable items and chemical re-agent worth Tk 63.32 million, and Tk 1.12 million for procuring low quality blankets at overrated price.
The CAG also found irregularities worth Tk 10 million in buying equipments from the responsive supplier, Tk 15.40 million for placing work order without contract signing, and Tk 3.0 million in procuring MSR goods.
Moreover, irregular payments worth Tk 134.41 million, Tk 2.34 million and Tk 51.21 million were made, a loss of Tk 7.26 million was incurred for not keeping records of use of various medicines and goods from the store, and a loss of Tk 29.45 million for not realising the required amount of security deposit and payment of bills, according to the CAG.
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