The Auditor General found $1.2million worth of newly purchased biomedical equipment were not used in 2023.
This was stated in the Auditor General’s Report on Social Services Sector for 2023 that was tabled in Parliament recently.
On May 30, 2023, the ministry invested $1.2million in three biochemistry integrated chemistry and immunoassay modular system analysers – comprising one Roche Cobas Pro and two Roche Cobas Pure units.
These machines were intended to enhance testing capacity at the divisional level reducing the need for costly outsourcing to private hospitals.
However, the audit report revealed that since their installation in June, 2023, the machines remained underutilised due to the ministry’s failure to procure essential reagents and consumables.
“Procurements of reagents and consumables should be properly planned to minimise the time biomedical machines are left idle and to ensure efficient service delivery,” said the Auditor General.
In response, the Ministry of Health explained that the Labasa Biochemistry machine was at 80 per cent installation and would be operational by early April of that year.
Meanwhile, the Nadi Biochemistry machine was at 80 per cent installation awaiting parts and was expected to be operational by the end of April, 2023.
