Health officials face prosecution over COVID-19 response purchases

The Inspector General’s Office of Afghanistan has accused a number of current and former officials of the Ministry of Public Health of mismanagement, warning they could be prosecuted.

Addressing a press conference about the procurement of goods for the COVID-19 response on Saturday in Kabul, the Inspector General Ghezal Haris said officials failed to ensure transparency in utilizing government resources.

The inspector general said the office’s initial findings indicate a lack of transparency in the COVID-19 budget expenditure, saying goods had been bought at a much higher price than the market value. An example was that for a digital thermometer. In Badakhshan the price had been 12,000 AFs, in Herat 24,000 AFs and in Logar 91,000 AFs. 

“Despite, the money having been allocated to fight the coronavirus, in some provinces, beds, mobile phones or 75-inch TVs have been purchased,” Haris said.

The Inspector General’s Office also found that although government paid to purchase new medical equipment, the authorities, in some cases, bought used medical equipment and supplies. 

 “Once the investigation is finished, a number of authorities from the Public Health Ministry and its provincial officials will be prosecuted over negligence, breach of statutory duty and misuse of government resources,” Haris said.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General’s Office found “poor management” in place at the Ministry of Public Health, saying that the ministry failed to define its priorities in terms of purchasing supplies and some had been unnecessary equipment and medication to fight COVID-19 could have been bought instead. 

This comes just days after the US pledged a new aid package for the COVID-19 response in Afghanistan.

Last week, USAID said that the US has allocated more than $36.7 million to help the people of Afghanistan address the COVID-19 pandemic, and expedited $90 million in continued development assistance through the World Bank to support Afghanistan’s national health and education sectors and local government needs.