As part of our strategic audit planning process, we engaged a diverse group of stakeholders who identified procurement as a critical area needing enhanced audit oversight. Following further risk assessment, public health procurement emerged as a key focus. A review of the Government budgets indicated that approximately $517 billion was allocated for public health expenditure between the fiscal years 2019-20 and 2023-24, reflecting an increase from $76 billion in 2019-20 to $134 billion in 2023-24. Despite this significant investment, stakeholders continue to express concerns regarding the state of public health infrastructure and the ongoing challenges faced in delivering healthcare services, highlighting that public health funding remains a critical issue.

Given funding constraints, the implementation of effective procurement strategies is vital for the efficient management of the public health system. It is essential for the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), along with regional health authorities and public hospitals, to implement procurement practices that optimize value for money. This approach will minimize waste and inefficiencies, ensuring the most effective use of the resources available for public healthcare.

The Auditor General’s Department has initiated a series of audits titled “Ensuring Value for Money in Public Health Procurement,” which include the conduct of performance audits at selected hospitals. The primary goal of these audits is to assess the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of public health procurement processes, in ensuring that maximum value is received from the limited resources available. For this initial assessment, two hospitals have been selected for review.

1. University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI)
2. Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH)

The audit will focus on public health procurement specifically related to hospital infrastructure. For this audit, “hospital infrastructure” includes construction projects, major refurbishments, equipment purchases, information systems, consultancy services, and other related services. The audit will assess the procurement processes for these activities to determine their compliance with the Government of Jamaica’s Handbook of Procurement Procedures. It will also evaluate whether these processes align with the principles of value for money and uphold good governance practices.

Your comments relevant to the audit topic may be useful and can be communicated by completing the relevant fields on our feedback form or email us at audgen@auditorgeneral.gov.jm.

Please note that we may not respond to you directly due to the volume of information we receive.