(MENAFN - Arab News) Five delayed hospital projects totaling more than SR 368 million have raised the eye of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha).
Nazaha has called on the Ministry of Health to investigate the status of these five delayed hospital projects which are 94 to 99 percent complete in the Qunfudha Governorate of Makkah Province.
Nazaha requested that the ministry find the reason for the delays and bring those responsible to account. It called on the ministry to implement regulatory measures against contractors who delay the execution of projects and expedite the completion of the hospital projects that would provide 450 beds.
Namera Hospital, a delayed project that is 94 percent completed and was scheduled to be finished about three years ago, was contracted for more than SR 32 million.
The Muthailef Hospital project's contract is worth SR 35 million and was to be completed more than a year ago, yet the project sits at 99 percent completion.
The delayed Southern Qunfudha Hospital project was contracted for SR 80 million and is 99 percent complete. It should have been completed nearly three years ago according to the schedule.
Thuraiban Hospital project was contracted for more than SR 31 million and is 99 percent complete. The deadline for finishing the project was two years ago.
Nazaha also noted that the procedures to call for bids on a gynecology and obstetrics hospital project worth SR 190 million in the region had yet to be finished.
Abdullah Al-Shareef, chairman of Nazaha, said earlier this week that the commission had detected shortcomings in the execution of government projects, especially the ones in remote regions, adding that cracks were apparent in the walls of schools that were built only two years ago.
Al-Shareef delivered an "Integrity and Combating Corruption" lecture at the Literary Club in Riyadh on Saturday. He said Nazaha would soon establish a women's department in several regions to receive reports from women's sections regarding government departments and schools. The commission is not supposed to inspect every project, but rather detect aspects of corruption, he said in a response to a question from the audience.
He added that Nazaha's officials are trustworthy and "immune" to the influence of those practicing corruption.
