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Mobile sampling points lacked clear rules and transparency, the most extensive database was deleted

Published: 13.12.2024
Bratislava, 13 December 2024 - Failing and unconnected information systems of state institutions or the inability of the Ministry of Health to provide a comprehensive database with reliable data on mobile sampling points (in Slovak MOM). The analytical unit of the Supreme Audit Office (SAO) of the Slovak Republic draws attention to these significant risks in its latest analytical commentary. In the second half of this year, it looked at the process of establishing, operating and controlling mobile sampling points, which have become a part of life for most of us during the most difficult months of the covid pandemic. The National Authority for External Scrutiny's analysis does not include full-scale testing, as these were not carried out through MOMs, nor the large-scale collection sites that preceded the emergence of mobile ones. "The whole system of mobile sampling points was highly chaotic, which played into the hands of those who wanted to make money from a dysfunctional system without any control and for whom the public interest was a nuisance," says Ľubomir Andrassy, the head of the auditors. The SAO estimates the total expenditure from the state budget to be EUR 317 million. Analysts estimate that 237 million went from state resources for the tests used in the MOMs. Inadequate record-keeping of expenditures, inconsistencies in the deployment of mobile sampling points, and significant differences in the number of tests performed and in the costs of testing proved to be problematic. The national auditors highlight the need for further checks by the responsible authorities and for increased transparency in the use of public resources by the health department. The findings have been forwarded by the Office, among others, to law enforcement authorities or the financial administration for further use.

The SAO's analysis pointed out that Slovakia does not have a unified system for crisis management in the health sector, as the health department's information systems are not sufficiently interconnected, and the records are thus significantly opaque. The failure of the Ministry of Health reflects the fact that it has not ensured sufficient coordination of processes for mobile collection points nor monitoring their functioning. The Ministry does not have adequate records based on which its staff allocated the funding for the mobile collection points. The expert services of the Ministry of Health failed to attribute the founder of the MOMs to all the payments made to finance them under the calls, which not only constitutes a violation of the Financial Control and Audit Act but may also be a breach of obligations in the management of foreign property.

The whole situation is complicated because most of the staff in charge of this area no longer work in this state institution. "There is no comprehensive data on the activities of the MOMs in the Ministry, as there has been an incomprehensible deletion of a key database of data in the My eHealth system. This database was supposed to contain the most comprehensive data on the tests carried out. Also, the number of mobile sampling points and the financial flows for the operation of these outpatient health facilities," says Ľ. Andrassy added that the deletion of the database has significantly hampered any control or subsequent analytical activities in this area. In addition to the Ministry itself, the responsibility lies with individual departmental institutions, such as regional public health offices or the National Centre for Health Information, which failed to provide comprehensive data on the financing of MOMs or the tests performed. The SAO analysts' findings indicate that several serious deficiencies have occurred that require the attention of state authorities.

Read the full text of the press release about this issue in Slovak language.

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