The Supreme Audit Chamber of the Republic of Kazakhstan (SAC RK) has identified financial irregularities and signs of inefficient use of budgetary funds as part of a state audit in Kostanay Region. The inspection covered several key areas, including healthcare and public procurement.
IRREGULARITIES IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR
In the implementation of projects for the construction of medical outpatient clinics, a significant overstatement of the cost of medical equipment was identified.
According to the audit data, the amount of overstatement was approximately 200 million tenge. At the same time, certain items were actually purchased at a cost 18-46 times lower than that provided for in the project estimate documentation.
It was also established that the prices for some equipment were based on price lists from a company that has been declared bankrupt.
IRREGULARITIES IN THE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM
Overall, in the sphere of public procurement, irregularities worth 12 billion tenge were identified. These include allowing companies that do not meet the documentation requirements to participate in tenders, as well as the use of single-source procurement under the pretext of emergency situations.
Cases were also recorded of the unjustified assignment of a 'For Official Use Only' classification to procurements, which limited the transparency of the procedures.
OVERALL AUDIT RESULTS
As part of the inspection, financial irregularities worth 51 billion tenge were identified, as well as inefficient planning and use of budgetary funds amounting to 50 billion tenge.
Materials concerning 52 cases have been forwarded for the initiation of administrative proceedings. No additional information regarding measures of responsibility or deadlines for rectifying the irregularities is provided in the materials.