“In 75 invoices for the years 2013 to 2018, we have identified weaknesses and errors in the computerization system of the European Patients’ Pricing Section”
Weaknesses in the granting process, resulting in sponsorships to bodies that do not meet the criteria of the plans, as stated, is identified by the Audit Service following a inspection carried out in a sample of transactions by the Ministry of Health and its Departments for the years 2022 and 2023, with the purpose of the Auditors.
In its special report, entitled “Financial Control of the Ministry of Health for the years 2022-2023”, the Audit Office notes that no other tests have been carried out on any other matters concerning the Ministry.
Weaknesses in the granting process
In relation to the Administration of the Ministry of Health, it states that in the years 2022 and 2023 it granted sponsorships to 41 and 43 bodies (links/organizations/institutions) respectively, in the context of the state aid plans of the YY, totaling € 3,809,246 and € 3,229,291, respectively.
As noted, “weaknesses in the granting process” were observed, such as sponsorship payment to bodies that had received subsidies from other ministries, even for different actions, diverging from the relevant Council of Council.
Specifically, in the year 2022 the Ministry of Health granted sponsorships of € 1,751,000 to 20 bodies, who received sponsorships of € 4,685,329 from other ministries, while in 2023 it granted sponsorships of € 1,663,291 to 21 bodies, which received € 3.820.
It was also given sponsorship to a body, which far exceeded the € 500,000 threshold for a reinforcement of a three -year period, which is set as a maximum threshold in accordance with Article 9 of the State Aid Plan.
Specifically, it was observed that the entity 1 was granted due to inadequate evaluation by the Evaluation Committee, sponsorship of € 70,000, while in 2021 it had received a total of € 1,062,752 as sponsorships and payment of sponsorship to bodies, which did not submit all the required documents, such as the Documents required by the Documents, such as the Documents and the Services, According to the report.
In addition, in 31 cases, although the establishment of the Evaluation Committee was not to be granted, because the bodies had deposits of more than 60% of the previous year’s costs, however, exceptional sponsorships of a total amount of € 1,231.246 were granted by exceptional sponsorships.
The Audit Office also identified delays in the process of publishing the plan, evaluation of applications, as well as payment of sponsorships afterwards, after the costs were carried out, circumventing the purpose of the plan for funding for the payment of annual expenditure and the absence of auditors. They meet the criteria of drawings, as noted.
Weaknesses and errors in the computer
Regarding data on the Ministry of Health’s receipts by national health agencies in other EU countries, the right to provide European citizens who reside in Cyprus, as well as data on the Ministry’s respective payments to the National Bodies for the provisions of the EU, residing in the EU. The Audit Office reports that the receipts from EU countries related to medical care rights to foreign nationals residing permanently in Cyprus in 2022 amounted to € 1,977,794.
“From the control of a collection from Greece worth € 153,265, dated. 24.3.2022, which relates to 75 invoices for the years 2013 to 2018, we have identified weaknesses and errors in the computer system of the European Patients Pricing Sector, ”he notes.
Specifically, it states that when there is a change in a beneficiary’s age group, the system automatically classifies the beneficiary to the older group by issuing a single invoice instead of separate invoices for each age group, to add that it results in over -pricing, as the charge increases according to the age group.
In addition, it notes that the computer system was not informed by the collection of eight beneficiaries totaling € 9,823, while the collection for three beneficiaries totaling € 3,684, which were repaid and recorded in the computer system on the specific date, were not included in the particular collection.
At € 10,763.009 Total payments of 2022 to send patients abroad
Regarding the cost of shipment of patients for treatment abroad and in private hospitals in Cyprus for the years 2010-2024, the Audit Office states that the cost of shipping patients for treatment abroad consists of payments by the Ministry of Health to national health agencies in other EU countries for shipping and non-EU.
Total payments related to the shipment of patients for treatment in EU countries through their national health system in 2022 amounted to € 10,763.009.
As mentioned in previous audit reports, E125 invoices are standardized and include general information such as the name of the patient, the hospital period and the total cost and therefore, there is no extensive checking of the cost of the invoices, reports.
As the Ministry of Health informed, it is noted, on the basis of a decision of all EU bodies/bodies, as well as the Member States, the E125 invoices include only the total billing amount.
The Audit Office recommends that the Ministry of Health considers the possibility of communicating with national health agencies of other EU member states, in order to determine if any further audit in tariffs they are required to pay to ensure the correctness of the amount of the payment, and to consider the amount of payment.
State sponsorship of 100 thousand in OSAK
In the meantime, the Audit Office states in its report that the Ministry of Health has paid a state sponsorship of € 100,000 to the Federation of Cyprus Patients Associations (OSAK), although not submitted by all the forms such as a status No. 1777.
In addition, it states that prior to the payment of the sponsorship, it was not examined by the Ministry as to whether the NSA had a reserve, including banking balances, diverging from the instructions of the Ministry of Finance.
In addition, in 2023, the incorrect credit was found to be € 258,793 by the Ministry of the Interior to the Administration of the Ministry of Health, it is said.
There were no relevant supporting information in the administration’s accounting office and after investigation of the matter, it was found that the amount was not for the administration of the YSE, but in funding for health services to immigrants, € 255,752 and € 3,041, by the State Health Services and the State Services,
Medical Services and Public Health Services
According to the Audit Office, the EU -funded medical equipment subsidy plan, through the recovery and resilience plan, aims to upgrade the hospital equipment (within and outside the General Health System), with emphasis on digital technology.
In 2023, 32 applications were approved by the Medical Services and Public Health Services and a total amount of € 485,097 were paid.
When checking a payment of € 200,000, the Audit Office reports, for the subsidy of a € 400,400 medical equipment market, it was found that although the plan includes clear criteria for evaluated gravity, hyprons are not measurable which makes the evaluation of the subjective application.
The Audit Office also found that the lack of adequate justification during evaluation reinforces subjectivity, especially since the final score of the applicant is significant and determines whether the application will be approved and integrated into the plan.
In addition, it was found that the bank status was not submitted by the application by the bank required by the plan, and it was also found that the Public Financing Convention was not signed by the sponsorship applicant, but by a legal person of the same Companies.
Dental services
Concerning dental services, it is stated that when checking a payment of € 5,981, d. 19.4.2023, for Dental Officer Education in Athens, it was found that the € 3,185 training allowance was incorrectly calculated, the accuracy of the € 2,529 residence allowance was not confirmed, due to the absence of the Curriculum for the Curriculum and the Requirement of the Curriculum. Authorization granted by the controller to the responsible officer to set up the expenditure.
For the State General Chemistry, the Audit Office states that from a check on a payment of € 17,493, d. 21.12.2022, relating to the purchase of services by 12 people for November 2022, under a contract for the implementation of pilot programs of the State General Chemistry, it was found that the surrender was not carried out by the responsible coordinator prior to the payment, as provided by Article 7 (2) of the Convention.
In addition, the responsible coordinator retired without officially appointing a replacement, although the contract for the purchase of services was in force, it is noted.