Question NW611 to the Minister of Health
23 March 2023 - NW611
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether he has been informed of allegations against a certain person (name and details furnished) for (a) the misuse of State funds, (b) the contravention of procurement and tender procedures, (c) threatening behaviour towards staff and (d) the misuse of office vehicles; if not, why not; if so, (2) whether he has launched an investigation in this regard; if not, will he launch an investigation; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
My office was informed by the Board of the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) of the various allegations against the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in August 2022, which contained inter alia allegations as set out in the Honourable Member’s.
2. The functions of the OHSC are under the control of the Board, and the Board is the Accounting Authority of the Office. I am informed by the OHSC that the allegations were investigated by the Human Resources and Remuneration Committee; Audit, Risk and Finance Committee and the Executive Committee of the OHSC Board in terms of the applicable Grievance and other policy prescripts, following which the Board considered the reports.
Following the above investigation, the Board did not find substance in the allegations against the CEO, relating to (a) the misuse of State funds, (b) the contravention of procurement and tender procedures, (c) threatening behavior towards staff and (d) the misuse of office vehicles.
Based on the investigation and findings of the Board I do not see the need for the Minister to repeat such an investigation which would come with an additional cost.
END.