Dhaka, 09 September 2007: Speakers here today underscored the need for strengthening the audit system to develop a robust and efficient financial management system for the Bangladesh Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Program (HNPSP).
“The age of unilateral auditing is gone and good teamwork is required between both the auditor and auditee for improving quality of audits and speedy settlement process for an effective audit”, said Mr. Asif Ali, Comptroller and Auditor General, while inaugurating a workshop on “Health Sector Audit” at the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (C&AG) Office Conference Room this morning.
Mr. AKM Zafar Ullah Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), and Mr. Xian Zhu, World Bank Country Director also spoke in the workshop, jointly organized by the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank.
Acknowledging the efforts taken by the C&AG’s office in improving the audit system, Mr. Xian Zhu said: “The Bank is supporting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its efforts to strengthen its audit systems and develop new procedure to ensure that new initiatives are fully aligned with the overall country financial management system. I am confident that this workshop is a good starting point towards a strengthened audit system and we remain committed to support you in your future ventures.”
Mr. AKM Zafar Ullah Khan said: “This workshop provides a good platform to come to a common understanding about the key challenges in the financial management system and work out ways forward through brainstorming.”
The Financial Management system of HNPSP covers areas from internal controls, budgeting, financing, accounting, reporting and audit, by following the Government’s systems, rules and regulations.
The HNPSP (2005–2010) is designed to modernize the country’s health sector and accelerate progress towards reaching the health related Millennium Development Goals and is supported by US$ 4.3 billion in Government and donor funding over the period. HNPSP builds on Bangladesh’s achievements in the health sector, targeting resources at the poor and aiming to create a health care system that is efficient and accountable to users. The Government of Bangladesh finances approximately 70 per cent of program and development partners around 30 per cent.
Ms. Suraiya Zannath Khan, Senior Financial Management Specialist, the World Bank, made a presentation on the potential problems and prospects of the health sector audit. This was followed by an open discussion on the presentation and other pertinent issues of the financial management system of HNPSP.
Officials of the C&AG’s office, Directorate of Health, Directorate of Family Planning, Foreign Aided Projects Audit Directorate (FAPAD) and MOHFW attended the workshop that concluded with an action plan, to be implemented over the next few months.