THE white paper on the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines was not made to find fault with the previous administration, but rather to improve the process in future.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the team preparing the document will look into aspects that can be improved, based on an earlier Public Accounts Committee presentation.

“... Not to look at the mistakes (of the previous government), but to come up with the best way, with more integrity, to ensure that it is also beneficial to the government.

“(Because) we understand that the document (procurement) was done during an emergency, but there may be things we need to focus on,” she told reporters after the launch of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital Wellness Hub in Johor Baru today.

On February 8, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was quoted as saying the Health Ministry (MOH) will present a white paper on the procurement of vaccines and its related costs, which was alleged to be partially non-compliant and signed by the minister without the approval of the attorney-general.

Commenting on the Auditor-General’s Report (AG’s Report) on the supply of faulty ventilators during the pandemic, which incurred a loss of RM13 million, Dr Zaliha said she has sought an explanation from officials involved.

“(I) have been informed (about this matter). Officials have given me an explanation, we take note (about the ventilator), along with other things that were done during the emergency, and we will see where we can improve,” she added.

Three days ago, the AG’s Report disclosed that there were only 28 usable ventilators out of 136 obtained by the MOH through the emergency procurement procedure. The remaining 108 units were deemed unsuitable and unsafe for patient use.

The report said the MOH then returned only 15 of them to the manufacturer, while the loss claim of RM13.07 million for the other 93 units could not be fulfilled as there was no procurement agreement between the company and the ministry. – Bernama, February 19, 2023.