angeles cruz martinez
Newspaper La Jornada
Wednesday, February 22, 2023, p. 13
In addition to failures in administrative and accounting records, the consolidated purchase of medicines and healing material in 2021, by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Institute of Health for Well-being (Insabi), was deficient and generated shortages in clinics and hospitals of the Mexican Institutes of Social Security (IMSS) and Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE), determined the Superior Audit of the Federation (ASF).
In the review of the public account of that year, he confirmed that UNOPS was only able to buy 1,050 keys, which represent 30 percent of the requirements raised by the institutions. Of the rest, until June, Insabi made direct awards for less than half of the 2,435 missing products.
The ASF reviewed six of the 986 finalized awards and found that two contracts were assigned to suppliers with the highest prices and the least production capacity. In another four, companies whose economic offer was not known were chosen. In addition, one of the selected firms lacked a health license for one of the drugs.
Other anomalies identified in the audit were that Insabi did not request quotes from 50 potential bidders and there was no evidence of sending bid requests for another 74.
Although the ASF opinion does not indicate patrimonial damage to public finances, neither does it state the amount of damage caused by these and other administrative irregularities.
Recovered, 682 million pesos
The auditor highlighted that due to his intervention, the recovery for the IMSS of 682 million pesos was achieved for a balance in favor that it had and was able to collect more than a year after the accounting reconciliation with Insabi was made.
The shortage was also evident because the IMSS could not prove the way in which it covered the demand for 833,687 pieces of medicines and healing material that UNOPS bought, but they arrived late at the medical units.
Meanwhile, in ISSSTE, of the acquisitions made by the United Nations agency, only the delivery of 265,406 pieces was verified as of December 31, 2021, that is, 48 percent of the scheduled total of 552,328 pieces.
Regarding the three ISSSTE contracts derived from the direct awards made by Insabi, the ASF detected that there was a lack of documentation, such as sanitary records, a manifesto of compliance with official Mexican and international standards, the letter of commitment to guarantee compliance against hidden defects and poor quality of delivered goods.
The ISSSTE was also unable to present the expiration and exchange commitment letter or the proof of registration to the single registry of suppliers and contractors. The ASF highlighted that it intervened so that the agency charged fines to a supplier for 331,000 pesos, which took place nine months after the date on which the drugs should have been delivered.
Regarding the delivery of inputs, the participating institutions did not receive information from Insabi on the criteria and requirements that they should meet. Added to this was the lack of documents proving the amount of goods delivered by UNOPS.
The review made to Insabi included the agreement with the international agency, of which there was no evidence on the amount paid for acquisitions, management, operations and indirect costs.
Insabi also did not verify that UNOPS has delivered the external audit report or the certified annual cumulative financial report with closed accounting books.
