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June 9, 2022 INSIDER • GOAL • IN-CYPRUS • PROPERTY • CYPRUS-IS • CAREER LIKE • GOING OUT • XRYSES SYNTAGES • ACTIVE • PHILGROUP NEWS & nbsp; SOCIETY & nbsp; INSIDER & nbsp; OPINIONS & nbsp; GOING OUT & nbsp; CULTURE & nbsp; SPORTS & nbsp; AUTO & nbsp; GOOD LIFE & nbsp; USEFUL & nbsp; PRINTED EDITION & nbsp;
ΑΡΧΙΚΗΕΙΔΗΣΕΙΣΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗΤΟΠΙΚΑΠΑΡΑΣΚΗΝΙΟMEDIAΕΛΛΑΔΑΚΟΣΜΟΣΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΗΠΡΟΕΔΡΙΚΕΣ 2023ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΑΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΕΙΣΧΡΥΣΕΣ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΕΣΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑΕΙΔΗΣΕΙΣΚΥΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΘΕΣΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΗ ΕΧΕΙΣ ΛΟΓΟΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΕΣΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΕΙΣΔΗΜΟΦΙΛΗ ΣΤΟ INTERNETVIDEOSΑΦΙΕΡΩΜΑΤΑADVERTORIALINSIDERΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΕΙΣΚΥΠΡΟΣBRAND VOICECAPITALFORBESBLOOMBERG OPINIONΠΡΩΤΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΕΣΚΑΥΤΗ ΓΡΑΜΜΗΧΡΥΣΕΣ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΕΣΚΑΡΙΕΡΑΑΠΟΨΕΙΣΑΡΘΡΑ ΣΤΟΝ “Φ”ΠΑΡΕΜΒΑΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΟΝ “Φ”ΤΟ ΜΗΝΥΜΑ ΣΟΥ ΣΚΙΤΣΑΟ ΚΟΣΜΟΣ ΤΟΥ TWITTERGOING OUTTHINGS TO DOCINEMAΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΕΣΤΙΑΤΟΡΙΑBAR/CAFETV ΟΔΗΓΟΣΤΗΛΕΟΡΑΣΗΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣΚΥΠΡΟΣΚΟΣΜΟΣΚΡΙΤΙΚΕΣΕΚΔΗΛΩΣΕΙΣΠΡΟΣΩΠΑΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΑΠΟΔΟΣΦΑΙΡΟΜΠΑΣΚΕΤΠΑΡΑΣΚΗΝΙΑΕΛΛΑΔΑΔΙΕΘΝΗΑΛΛΑ ΣΠΟΡΑΠΟΨΕΙΣΣΚΙΤΣΟVIDEOSAUTOΝΕΑΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΣΗΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΕΣΑΓΩΝΕΣΚΑΛΗ ΖΩΗΥΓΕΙΑΔΙΑΤΡΟΦΗΕΥ ΖΗΝΑΣΤΡΑΧΡΥΣΕΣ ΣΥΝΤΑΓΕΣΣΥΝΤΑΓΕΣ ΣΕΦΒΗΜΑ ΒΗΜΑΧΡΗΣΙΜΑΦΑΡΜΑΚΕΙΑΓΙΑΤΡΟΙΑΕΡΟΔΡΟΜΙΑΛΙΜΑΝΙΑΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΑΟΠΑΠΚΑΙΡΟΣΣΥΝΑΛΛΑΓΜΑΛΑΧΕΙΑAPPSΠΡΟΣΦΟΡΕΣΕΝΤΥΠΗ ΕΚΔΟΣΗ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗΤΟΠΙΚΑΠΑΡΑΣΚΗΝΙΟMEDIAΕΛΛΑΔΑΚΟΣΜΟΣΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΗΠΡΟΕΔΡΙΚΕΣ 2023ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΑΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΕΙΣΧΡΥΣΕΣ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΕΣ ΕΙΔΗΣΕΙΣΚΥΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΘΕΣΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΗ ΕΧΕΙΣ ΛΟΓΟΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΕΣΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΕΙΣΔΗΜΟΦΙΛΗΣΤΟ INTERNETVIDEOSΑΦΙΕΡΩΜΑΤΑADVERTORIAL ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΕΙΣΚΥΠΡΟΣBRAND VOICECAPITALFORBESBLOOMBERG OPINIONΠΡΩΤΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΕΣΚΑΥΤΗ ΓΡΑΜΜΗΧΡΥΣΕΣ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΕΣΚΑΡΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ ΣΤΟΝ “Φ”ΠΑΡΕΜΒΑΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΟΝ “Φ”ΤΟ ΜΗΝΥΜΑ ΣΟΥ ΣΚΙΤΣΑΟ ΚΟΣΜΟΣ ΤΟΥ TWITTER THINGS TO DOCINEMAΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΕΣΤΙΑΤΟΡΙΑBAR/CAFETV ΟΔΗΓΟΣΤΗΛΕΟΡΑΣΗ ΚΥΠΡΟΣΚΟΣΜΟΣΚΡΙΤΙΚΕΣΕΚΔΗΛΩΣΕΙΣΠΡΟΣΩΠΑ ΠΟΔΟΣΦΑΙΡΟΜΠΑΣΚΕΤΠΑΡΑΣΚΗΝΙΑΕΛΛΑΔΑΔΙΕΘΝΗΑΛΛΑ ΣΠΟΡΑΠΟΨΕΙΣΣΚΙΤΣΟVIDEOS ΝΕΑΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΣΗΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΕΣΑΓΩΝΕΣ ΥΓΕΙΑΔΙΑΤΡΟΦΗΕΥ ΖΗΝΑΣΤΡΑΧΡΥΣΕΣ ΣΥΝΤΑΓΕΣΣΥΝΤΑΓΕΣ ΣΕΦΒΗΜΑ ΒΗΜΑ ΦΑΡΜΑΚΕΙΑΓΙΑΤΡΟΙΑΕΡΟΔΡΟΜΙΑΛΙΜΑΝΙΑΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΑΟΠΑΠΚΑΙΡΟΣΣΥΝΑΛΛΑΓΜΑΛΑΧΕΙΑAPPSΠΡΟΣΦΟΡΕΣ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΕΙΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΣ BRAND VOICE CAPITAL FORBES BLOOMBERG OPINION ΠΡΩΤΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΕΣ ΚΑΥΤΗ LINE GOLDEN COMPANIES CAREER
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Next Previous Audit: Gaps and Weaknesses in the Operation of OKYPY p>
& nbsp & nbspInsider & nbsp; & nbsp;
The operation of the State Health Services Organization to date is characterized by serious gaps and weaknesses, in terms of financial management and corporate governance, and the appropriate measures have not been taken for its independence from state support and the smooth transition to conditions of full competition on 1.6 .2024, reports the Audit Service in a Special Report on “Management Audit and Compliance Audit of the State Health Services Organization”.
In particular, EV notes that the number of patients in the Organization's hospitals has been drastically reduced, resulting in a decrease in revenue, while on the contrary, expenses show a significant increase, mainly due to a continuous increase in payroll costs.
Weaknesses and omissions were also identified in the implementation of public procurement legislation, mainly during the pandemic period, “which led to irregularities in the Agency's conduct of tenders to meet its urgent needs and in some cases did not comply with any procedures, while the provisions of the terms of a specific tender were interpreted arbitrarily and abusively “.
At the same time and according to the report, “OKYPY announced tenders with the time-consuming and costly process of the method of the completed study and announcement of open tender for the selection of a Contractor, for the development projects of Hospitals and Health Centers of OKYPY, many of which , as they are funded by the EU Recovery and Sustainability Plan, a process which would not bring the required result and with which our Office disagreed “. OKYPY, despite the fact that valuable time was lost, finally proceeded to the cancellation of this tender and as we have been informed, the method of Design-Construction-Maintenance will be adopted, through which the timely and successful implementation of the Projects with the most effective and economically, adds EV.
The Audit Office also identified a strange obstacle from OKYPY, in the promotion of the new Integrated Health Information System (new OPSY), whose Contracting Authority is the Ministry of Health, “spending significant time and effort in promoting a different solution” concluding a contract with the existing Contractor, which our Service considered illegal and without bringing real benefit to the public “.
The main findings, as recorded in the EV report, are the following:
The financial statements and Financial Reports for the years 2018-2020 were submitted with a delay, while to date no Annual Report of the Organization for such years as provided by law.
We have recommended that the above statements/Reports be prepared within the deadlines set by the Law.
We found weaknesses and weaknesses in the appointment of the former Chairman of the Board, ie a conflict of interest due to his relationship with companies in the United Kingdom with related activities. We also found weaknesses in the process of hiring the former General Manager, who, according to the report of the consulting firm that evaluated the applicants for the position of General Manager, did not meet the criteria of fifteen years of experience in the management of a large organization.
We recommend that the selection of persons to be recruited to the Agency be made on the basis of internationally accepted governance codes.
We have found that the necessary measures have not been taken and no progress has been made regarding the autonomy of the Agency, which, according to the legislation, must be completed by 1.6.2024. From the Organization's Budgets for the years 2019-2021, it seems that there are serious negative deviations of real revenues, compared to budgeted revenues, resulting in the accumulation of large deficits. Also, the forecasts for the years 2022-2024 are not auspicious, due to the continuous decrease of patients visiting state hospitals.
We have recommended that a Strategic Plan be prepared for the Agency's medium-term objectives in the form of business plans, which are linked to the Budget.
We found that there were general and horizontal increases in nursing staff, as well as large increases in the form of various general and special allowances for medical staff, with no correlation between productivity and revenue.
We have recommended the review and rationalization of bonuses.
We have found that internal control in the Agency is degraded and understaffed.
We recommended the upgrade and appropriate staffing of the Internal Audit Unit. & nbsp;
During the evaluation of the tender for the assignment/award of the project for the Completion of three (3) Nursing Units at the General Hospital of Famagusta, the OKYPY did not respect the principles that should govern the implementation of public contracts, such as the equal and non-discriminatory treatment of proportionality, transparency, as well as the reliability of the procedure followed for the evaluation and award of the tender.
We recommended that, when evaluating bids, the principles governing the performance of public contracts are always observed. Also, that the terms of the tender documents are interpreted correctly and not arbitrarily and abusively.
The Organization approved the replacement of the subcontractor of the mechanical installations of the project for the completion of three Nursing Units at the General Hospital of Famagusta, worth € 403,200 + VAT in total € 1,667,000 + VAT, which was the amount of the Contractor's offer, without following the legal procedures. As a result, a relevant complaint was submitted to both OKYPY and our Service by the subcontractor, who had been illegally replaced and who was justified by the events, as they emerged from the ex-post investigation of our Service and not in time by OKYPY , as it should as the Contracting Authority of the tender.
We have recommended that the procedures and legislation on public procurement be strictly followed, on the one hand to safeguard the interests of the Agency and on the other hand to respect the principles of transparency and equal treatment of the economic operators participating in the tenders it announces. p>OKYPY has not complied with any tender procedure, in accordance with the relevant provisions of public procurement legislation, for the assignment of the preparation of the study and supervision of works, as well as the construction of the New Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Nicosia General Hospital. Also, the OKYPY did not consider possible alternative methods for the implementation of the project. The matter is being investigated by the Police, regarding the possibility of committing criminal offenses.
We have recommended that the principles governing public procurement are faithfully applied, in all cases and for all needs.
In February 2022, OKYPY proceeded to the announcement of a tender, through an open procedure, for the provision of study and supervision services of Consulting Engineers for the development projects of Hospitals and Health Centers of OKYPY (Estimated Value € 3,867,567 + VAT method of the completed study and announcement of an open tender for the selection of a Contractor. Our Service had pointed out in time, both before and after the announcement of the tender, the disadvantages of the method chosen by OKYPY, compared to the many advantages of the method “Design/Construction/Maintenance”. In May 2022, the Organization, taking into account the recommendations and suggestions of our Service, canceled the tender and decided to proceed with the application of the method “Design/Construction/Maintenance”, as our suggestion.
We recommended, based on the experience so far in public works, as in this case the method “Design/Construction/Maintenance” is followed, which has both economic and qualitative advantages in the implementation of construction projects, in relation to the method of preparation of integrated study and call for tenders, a recommendation which was finally adopted by the Agency.
In 2015, it was decided to install a new Integrated Health Information System in public hospitals and in the same year, specifications and open tender documents were prepared by experts secured by the World Health Organization. Almost seven years later and after various modifications were made to the tender documents, the estimated cost and the implementation schedule, the tender for the project has not even been awarded yet. Despite the fact that OKYPY, according to its General Executive Director (GED), recognized the urgent need to upgrade and expand the existing systems, as it was preparing an intermediate solution in order not to be exposed, nevertheless we found from his actions that he had not same zeal for the launch of the implementation of the new OPSY, contributing positively to the award of the relevant tender.
We have set up a monitoring/control team for the progress of the project works, for the course until the award of the open tender, as well as the execution works, in order to minimize the risk of delay in the project implementation, to cause any additional requirements from the Contractor. contract and the promotion of any unnecessary intermediate solution.
The Agency requested and received approval for the conclusion of a contract for the insurance coverage of its doctors, through the negotiation process with the Contractor of the previous contract, which had expired eight months earlier, requesting retroactive coverage for the time when it was not in contract valid. The bidder did not accept the retroactive effect of the insurance, as a result of which the tender was canceled and in order to safeguard its interests, the Organization requested, on the basis of the relevant provision of the General Health System (Insurance Coverage Against Negligence) KDP Decision. . 496/2020, guarantee from the Republic of Cyprus for insurance coverage against medical professional negligence. With regard to the new contract for the purchase of the services in question, by the time of the preparation of this Report it had not been completed, despite the seriousness of the matter.
We recommend that the Agency act in a timely manner for the award or renewal of contracts, especially when it is known in advance when the previous one expires, in the context of the relevant legislation.
The Organization, in April 2022, awarded, through the negotiation process, a new contract for the management of medical waste to the previous Contractor, for 3 + 1 + 1 years, amounting to € 2,583,493 + VAT per year, amount by 28% higher than the previous contract. The reason for using the above procedure was that this economic operator was the only one licensed to provide the services in question, as well as because the Agency had not taken timely measures to call an open tender, as it intends, according to the information we have by the Agency itself, to act in the near future, in order to ensure the development of healthy competition and the breadth of participation for the benefit of the public.
We recommend that, as in the case of tenders and, in particular, in the case of high value contracts concluded under monopoly status, the Agency act and take timely action to avoid the repeated renewal of existing contracts with all the consequent consequences.
The Tender Council of the Ministry of Health canceled an open tender for the supply of consumables for a hospital in OKYPY, after the intervention of OAY, since the consumables will be reimbursed through a list of OAY, based on its current procedures. Regarding the legality of the whole procedure, the Competent Public Procurement Authority, to which we asked a relevant question, informed us that it considers the procedure followed by both OAY and OKYPY to be legal. Our Office will study this answer, to which we express our reservations in principle, and we will take a position, possibly after receiving guidance from the European Commission.
We recommend that the legality and cost-effectiveness of the Agency's decisions regarding the purchase of medical supplies, which are an important part of its Budget, be checked and documented before a decision is taken.
In October 2021, the Bid Council of the Organization canceled a tender for the supply of 20 ambulances with an estimated value of € 4,320.00 + VAT, because only one bid was submitted, which exceeded the cost estimate by 35% and was considered too high, in relation to the appreciation. During the preparation of the tenders, the Agency rejected the request of an economic operator to modify the technical specifications of the ambulances, which would allow more tenders to be submitted, which, however, was accepted and modified the technical specification when announcing a new tender, resulting in delay. in the purchase of new ambulances needed to meet the urgent needs of its Ambulance Service.
We have recommended a thorough market research, for the best possible preparation of the technical specifications and the estimation of tender costs, before their announcement, especially when it comes to items/supplies that are important for its operation, in order to avoid cancellation of tenders, either due to limited participation, or due to incorrect cost estimate.
In March 2021, a request was submitted for the supply of a mobile crisis management unit, valued at € 200,000, through the negotiation process with an economic operator, citing the urgency, which was finally rejected by the Agency's Tender Board two months later, if not was deemed to be sufficiently substantiated. Since then, two open tenders for the supply of this unit followed, for which, however, no bids were submitted and canceled.
We have recommended that the procedures provided by the public procurement legislation be followed and that the tender documents be adapted to the market conditions and the requirements of the Organization, in order to ensure the wide participation and not to cause delays in the implementation of the projects. The Agency procured an oxygen production system worth € 580,000 + VAT, through the negotiation process with an economic operator, invoking emergency coverage and a delivery time of six weeks, which however was delivered and put into operation with an 11-week delay, the owed to the Agency.
We recommend that, before deciding to meet needs through the negotiation process, due to an urgent need, which does not guarantee the development of healthy competition and, consequently, the breadth of participation for the benefit of the public, take all necessary steps for timely implementation of contracts arising within the timetables of each contract, so that its decisions comply with the basic principles of transparency and equal treatment of economic operators, which must govern public procurement and which it must comply with.
< p> OKYPY: We take advantage of the recommendations of the Audit Office & nbsp;
On the occasion of the publication of the report of the Auditor General Odysseas Michailidis, the State Health Services Organization emphasizes that both the Report and the recommendations of the Audit Service are fully respected and helpful.
In a statement, OKYPY states that all the points raised by the Auditor General, have been studied and will be utilized, where required.
“For OKYPY, the control of the Audit Office has its own importance and value and can help the Organization to achieve its objectives: in a modern, flexible and efficient Organization, its financial autonomy and the upgrade of its hospitals and services “, it is noted.
The Board of Directors and the Management of OKYPY, it is noted, are in constant contact with the Audit Service and looks forward to deepening cooperation between the two sides.
