The current leadership of the Institute of Public Health (IJZ) discovered a series of irregularities in the operation of the institution, among which a 15-kilometer long Internet cable, worth about 15,000 euros, is missing, as well as a lack of documentation for purchased information equipment.
The director of IJZ, Marija Andonovska, stated that no audit was carried out in the institution since 2017, and during the internal checks several disputed purchases and contracts were found.
According to her, computers, laptops and “iPhone” mobile phones were purchased, but for some of the equipment there are only requests for purchase, without returns or a trace of where it ended up.
Among the established inconsistencies are also contracts for telecommunication services with significantly higher amounts than initially foreseen. Thus, a contract was concluded for mobile services worth 1.6 million denars, although 800,000 denars were planned, while a contract for fixed telephony was signed for 1.1 million denars instead of the planned 550,000 denars.
Andonovska announced that tomorrow she will hold a press conference at which additional details will be presented about the established irregularities in the operation of the Institute for Public Health.
– We also determined that 50,000 euros were spent in one hour for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of IJZ. So what can 50,000 euros be spent on in one hour? Furthermore, if the law allows for 1,000 euros or 62,000 denars to acquire certain funds that you need without calling for a public procurement, they have spent over a million and something beyond what is allowed. Imagine, 1,000 euros allowed, and they spent over 20,000 euros. 500,000 denars each was given for the national team, compared to now when we have zero national team, not using an official vehicle, no official trips. I don’t use an official mobile phone, I don’t use an official number. There is a record – if a certain device is received, the person to whom the device is issued is charged. There are reverses and the like. Certain salary supplements were paid illegally, bonuses, awards, active and passive benefits – they are against the law. 5 million denars per month are saved now when the coefficients are regulated, when no illegal payments are made in relation to the payments. Regarding the network cable of 15,000 euros, we don’t even know where it is, nor what it is, nor why it is – said Andonovska.
She emphasizes that the audit was carried out at the request of the IJZ, whose report with an unfavorable opinion was published in the public.
– Regarding the report of the State Audit Office, I would like to mention a few things. First of all, when I came to the Institute of Public Health, I found many irregularities from the very beginning. The public was immediately informed, the competent institutions were also informed. We even sent a letter and requested that the State Audit Office come to determine the irregularities that we are facing. Day by day we found new and new irregularities. There was no end to the irregularities. Practically, we did not find one thing that was done legally or according to any regulation. I expected from the very beginning that at least the Public Prosecutor’s Office, after hearing a voice, would initiate some procedure – said the director.
She mentioned that the SAO Report refers to the period before her arrival at the post of director of the IJZ.
– It is about 2024. But I also want to mention that there has been no audit in the Institute since 2017. Perhaps that is why so many problems and irregularities in functioning have arisen. A large part of these irregularities, apart from being communicated to the public, were also handed over to the Department of Criminalistics and Organized Serious Crime – Corruption Unit, which, I suppose, due to the volume of materials – more than two dozen classifiers, has not yet reached any result or outcome of the whole situation. And as I mentioned, the irregularities are too many. There is nothing to single out, to say: “well, they did this right”. We found an empty Institute account. There was an empty account, which now, from 0 denars then, we made it currently amount to 150 million. We have also recovered the debts of over 50 million. We inherited zero denars in the account, and now we have returned debts and 150 million denars. The question arises, where is this money that is practically the people’s money? They entered this Institute and should have been used properly, for new services, new equipment, new diagnostics, for services that citizens should receive. Where did these funds end up? Andonovska attacked.
The State Audit Office expressed an unfavorable opinion on the financial statements and compliance of financial transactions of the Institute of Public Health for 2024, revealing irregularities in the records, claims and implementation of public health programs.
