Question NW213 to the Minister of Health
11 April 2018 - NW213
Lekota, Mr M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)(a) What were the circumstances that led to the North West Department of Health awarding a three-year contract to a certain company (name furnished) for the provision of a mobile clinic, (b) what amount has been paid to the specified company to date and (c) on what legal provision did the North West Department of Health rely when it made the payments; (2) was the provision of the service planned and budgeted for; if not, what informed the procurement of the service; (3) were normal tender processes followed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Thank you Honourable Member for this important question.
I had visited the North West Department of Health and held a meeting with its senior staff at Ratlou Community Health Centre in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District on the 2nd March 2018.
I then had an opportunity to inspect two (2) of the mobile "clinics".
From what I could gather, I realised that this problem is much bigger than meets the eye and needs a very serious technical investigation.
Since this is a procurement function which is the purview of the provincial department, I wrote to the Minister of Finance on the 8th March 2018 and requested that the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) in the National Treasury investigate this matter.
I also briefed the Minister of Finance. I am made to understand that this investigation is going on.
May the Honourable Member bear with me until the results of this investigation are released.
END.