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KHMH Audit: X-Ray Acquisition Was Less Than Transparent
posted (December 9, 2014)
All of last week, we told you about the special audit of the KHMH looking, principally, into the acquisition of a pair of X-Ray units. There were a number of procedural irregularities in the acquisition - including purchasing it from an offshore shell company in Hong Kong.

But, as the audit illustrates, the irregularities extended beyond procedure to the units themselves. Here's more:..

Jules Vasquez reporting The X-Ray machine arrived at the KHMH without basic information such as a bill of lading or the customs entry. The auditors had to source this from the Customs Department.

The auditor concludes that they were unable to determine conclusively that the hospital had received what it ordered. There was no warranty for the machines.

At first, CEO Gary Longsworth said he'd come up with them and then he later told the auditors he couldn't find it. The Director of Financial Services Carlos Perera who signed for the equipment at the customs department - told the Auditor that the purchasing department should have settled this with the supplier.

Because the main unit the Siemens Luminos RF Classic was stiff locked up in boxes at the time of the audit, the auditor could not verify the contents.

But did the KHMH get value for money? They expected to get a brand new unit, but the auditor found different years of manufacture labeled on the different components.

With this, they could not determine if the unit was brand new or refurbished. When they did get a verbal quote on a new generic unit, the price was quote, "far above" what the KHMH paid - suggesting that the unit was not new, but refurbished.

The new CEO of the KHMH Dr. Adrian Coye told us that he'll ensure that the Luminos Classic will be assembled and put to productive use.

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