Health Minister Jone Usamate says processes in the ministry will need to be revisited.
Usamate was responding to our questions about excessive charges by some Indian hospitals for Fijian patients seeking treatment in their facilities.
The 2013 Auditor General’s Report tabled in parliament highlighted cases where charges were far above the quotes provided for surgeries.
“If someone is not following the procedures then the question must be asked why was the person not following procedures. If it’s a case of the person not knowing then maybe the solution is training. But if its deliberate then it’s a case of discipline. Procedures are made to be followed. I don’t have the details of the anomalies in the Auditor Generals’ Reports. But procedures are meant to be followed. Sometimes the procedures are not good enough. In that case they need to be improved. We need to improve the level of services to all Fijians.”
The report pointed out other anomalies like Local Purchase Orders being raised after the Date of Invoice were issued and overpayment to contractors for renovation and refurbishment work carried out.
