NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 166 (transferred from oral 92)
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 MAY 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 12)
Mr C J de Beer (ANC-NC) to ask the Minister of Health:
Whether, with regard to the report and findings of the Auditor-General
regarding his departmentâs failure to implement adequate internal controls
and measures (details furnished), his department has since (a) developed
and (b) implemented any measures and systems of control in this regard; if
not, (i) why not and (ii) what are his departmentâs plans in this regard;
if so, what are the relevant details?
CW231E
REPLY:
a) and (b) Yes; adequate internal controls and measures are in place and
implemented.
i) The Department of Health developed an intervention plan aimed at
dealing with all audit queries raised by Auditor-General. The
objective of the plan is to ensure that by 2014, all provinces receive
clean audits. The plan has focused on ensuring that there are
milestones at which reports have to be received from the provinces to
all relevant policy structures in the department e.g. National Health
Council (NHC).
ii) With effect from 1 August 2012 an in-house audit on verification
checks on all volume files from 2008 to 2011 is being conducted. SAQA
verification for all qualifications on all appointments between 2008
and 2011 has been completed. Copies of IDs for appointments made
between 2008 and 2011 were recorded for submission to the State
Security Agency. Appointments made in 2012 are only implemented after
verification results have been received. A checklist has been
developed to ensure that all steps in the recruitment process are
followed prior to appointment.
Not all Senior Managers signed performance agreements as required by
PSR 4/III/B/.1. â all outstanding Performance Agreements for 2013/14
were sourced from relevant SMS members. Internal Communiqué indicating
the due dates for submission for half-yearly reviews are periodically
circulated to SMS Members. This will be followed-up by telephonic
reminders. On-going support and training on the implementation of the
performance management and development system is provided to
employees.
The Human Resources Plan was not in place as required by PSR
1/III/B.2(d). â A Human Resource Plan for 2012/2014 was approved and
filed with the Department of Public Service & Administration on the 28
March 2013.
The National Department of Health is transferring funds to provinces
as per approved payment schedule by National Treasury. The plan has
proposed a uniform payment date for all health sector grants. To
further fast track the payments, the Office of the National Chief
Financial Officer (NCFO) has been delegated to approve the monthly or
quarterly transfer payments to provinces.
Branch Managers have been appointed as Grant Champions to further
promote accountability and management of health sector conditional
grants. The plan also includes provincial visits lead by the Office of
the NCFO to address issues of compliance and performance of the health
sector grants at a higher level.
The Intervention plan is in place and implemented and it proposes a
central point where all challenges will be raised and a united
intervention approach is pursued. This may include a review of grant
frameworks, business plans or project implementation plans. Such a
step will enhance monitoring and evaluation, but also afford the
National Department of Health to assist in time.
END.
