PAC to probe Health’s accounts

THE Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts will conduct an inquiry into the Health Department and the provision of health, medical and hospital services.
Committee secretary Repe Rambe said the committee would inquire into the budgeting, appropriation, payment and application of public monies, property and stores by the department.
Rambe told The National yesterday that the inquiry was likely to proceed soon after the parliament sitting.
The committee will also look into other associated government agencies to health, medical and hospital services with particular emphasis on planning, maintenance, procurement and supply to hospitals, clinics, aid posts and other institutions and agencies.
Institutions to face the committee include Mendi, Port Moresby, Nonga Base and Angau Memorial hospitals, the Laloki Psychiatric Hospital and rural health services in Central, Southern Highlands, Morobe and East New Britain.
Rambe said the institutions were selected on random, adding that hospitals like Mendi was where the hub of all major development activities were taking place, hence, they would be looking into its management of funds and others.
He said the committee was small and had limited funding and could not cover all hospitals in the country.
He said chief executive officers of the hospitals mentioned, the health secretary and all his deputies and executive managers who are major players in the department would face the committee.
The committee is inviting any individual or institution wishing to provide written submissions to or be heard to deliver their submissions or apply to be heard to the secretariat of the committee.