Audit Finds Valuable Medical Equipment Stored Haphazardly In MOH Hospitals

The AG’s Report found improper storage of valuable medical equipment in MOH hospitals in 2022 that raises risk of damage to assets, including syringe pumps and infusion pumps stacked on the floor in Ampang Hospital and ventilators in open corridors in HKL.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 – The Auditor-General has raised concerns over the improper storage of valuable medical equipment in several Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals last year.

The latest Auditor-General’s 2021 Report (Series 2) tabled in Parliament last Thursday showed images of syringe pumps and infusion pumps stacked on the floor in Ampang Hospital in Selangor; ventilators stored in a seminar room at the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan, Sabah; oxygen concentrators stored at an unused building that is separated from patient care at Hospital Bersalin Kuala Lumpur (now Kuala Lumpur Women and Children Hospital or Tunku Azizah Hospital); and ventilators lined up in open corridors at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

The photos of the medical devices were taken by the National Audit Department between July 14 and August 5, 2022.

“Medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), ventilators, infusion pumps, and syringe pumps are essential for Covid-19 patient care. 

“MOH facilities have carried out additional procurement and received external contributions for these assets. Inspections were conducted to assess compliance in equipment storage procedures post-Covid and found that the storage locations were inappropriate,” the report stated.

In response to the audit’s findings, the MOH told the Auditor-General last September 30 that the placement of ventilators at a seminar room at the Duchess of Kent Hospital was temporary pending the completion of a field hybrid intensive care unit (ICU) that had been planned and approved to be built at the hospital where the use of the assets will be optimised.

On the situation at Ampang Hospital, the MOH said the hospital is planning to identify an appropriate location to be upgraded for additional storage. Currently, an empty quarters is being used to store oxygen concentrators, apart from passageways in the general operating theatre and modular operating theatre used to store ventilators and HFNC.

Scheduled monitoring and maintenance on the equipment are also carried out. Damaged assets or those without the approval of the Medical Device Authority will be disposed of.

On the situation at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, the ministry said there is a need to create a stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment as a preparedness measure to face the risk of a resurgence of Covid-19 cases and other epidemics.

The preparedness plan includes the distribution of medical equipment for storage in departments according to a ratio for appropriate use. 

It also involves the storage of larger equipment, such as oxygen concentrators, in unused wards located 300 metres away from the main building, which are guarded by auxiliary police. Scheduled monitoring and maintenance on the equipment are carried out.

The national audit concluded that medical equipment stored in inappropriate places increases the risk of loss and damage to assets.

You may also like