Health to look at alleged fraud

HEALTH and HIV/AIDS Minister Elias Kapavore has directed the Health Department to look into an alleged fraud case involving a nursing officer in Northern.
Kapavore instructed the department to investigate the officer who was allegedly involved in the contract awarded to his company to build the provincial medical transit store.
Health secretary Pascoe Kase told The National that he had referred the officer and his company to the fraud squad.
“I have referred the person and his company to the fraud squad to investigate and take appropriate action,” Kase said.
Meanwhile, funding had been allocated for a new medical transit store to be built in Popondetta.
Kapavore said the department officials had visited Popondetta and had come up with other details needed to improve the transit medical store.
“There’s another funding that has been committed and they will be working on that one.”
Kapavore expressed regret at what had happened and pledged to ensure it not happened again.
“On the logistics and distribution of drug that’s been an ongoing issue in the country,” he said.
Kapavore added that the procurement for medical supplies coming into the county was a different process but the difficult task was the distribution to the respective parts of the country.
“There are about four main logistics companies engaged by the Health Department.”