JSC: NWRHA – Poor record keeping

The Chairman of the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), Hugh Eastman has admitted that poorly kept records are to blame for non-payment of suppliers to the NWRHA. Eastman revealed this Wednesday to the Joint Select Committee on Government Ministries, Statutory Authorities and Municipal Corporations. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mary King confronted him with reports of complaints from suppliers, who said they had not received payments due to them.

Some suppliers complained that they have not been paid for years by the NWRHA. Eastman explained that the records at the NWRHA were “poorly kept” therefore when the suppliers call demanding payment, he checks with the accounting department who maintains that the NWRHA is “up to date” with respect to payments to those suppliers. However the suppliers are now being asked to send in their outstanding invoices. In the Ministry of Health-funded initiative, Eastman hopes that they will make all outstanding payments within six months.