Medical supplies stored in hotel rooms infested with termites – Audit finds

Medical supplies deemed for the country’s health centres were being stored in hotel rooms infested with termites, the Auditor General has stated in his 2017 report.

The report was tabled in the National Assembly Thursday.

The hotel being used was the Ocean View International Hotel, East Coast Demerara, but the Audit Office found no formal agreement for rental of the property or the other offsite locations that were being used.

Seven hotels were found to be storing the medical supplies.

“…there was evidence of termite infestation in the room and damages to the boxes and items stored…,” the report states.

In response, the Ministry of Public Health said: “the proprietors have treated the rooms against termites and rodents to avoid damage to the items.”

Regarding the use of the hotel and other facilities, the Auditor General stated: “There was no evidence that rent was paid to the owners of the facilities and audit checks revealed that the Ministry did not enter into contracts with the owners for the storage of the items,” the Auditor General’s 2017 states.

The Ministry of Public Health responded that the Ministry had sought the assistance of corporate citizens to have the items stored at the offsite locations temporarily since the construction of bonds were ongoing.

The Audit Office recommended that the Ministry takes action to ensure that contracts are put in place that meet the requirements of the Procurement Act 2013, especially as they relate to the terms and conditions that would indemnify the government from financial loss.