The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised a concern over alleged interference by Queen 'Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) Executives in procurement processes, including decisions on which companies should supply or provide services to the hospital

The concerns emerged during the ongoing PAC inquiry into the operations and financial management of QMMH, where the hospital’s Procurement Manager, Mrs. Masekoati Mots’ets’ero, admitted that procurement procedures were sometimes not followed, when engaging service providers.

She told the committee that the hospital’s executive, which include the Managing Director and her Deputy, sometimes instructed on which service providers should be engaged.

When asked whether she had advised the executive to comply with procurement procedures when they were breached, she said she had done so although she could not provide written evidence of the advice as many procurement decisions were made during meetings.

PAC Chairperson Mrs. Machabana Lemphane Letsie recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the QMMH executive, since they had also decided not to appear before the committee to clarify some of the hospital issues.

Meanwhile the committee also heard that some QMMH service providers remain unpaid and was informed that, in some cases, payments were made by the Ministry of Health.

Image by NewsDay