A Marshall Liberal Government would ensure a comprehensive inquiry was conducted into all aspects of the Weatherill Government’s management of SA Health’s ICT projects, Shadow Health Minister Rob Lucas said today.
“Whilst the Auditor-General has told the Budget and Finance Committee he is conducting an inquiry into the $422 million EPAS project, there are also a number of other SA Health ICT projects which also need to be reviewed urgently,” said Mr Lucas.
“Sadly, the Weatherill Government’s handling of SA Health’s ICT projects has been characterised by massive budget blowouts, time delays, resignation or sacking of key staff and significant probity issues relating to procurement processes.”
The sorry history of problems includes:
• The $20 million Oracle project has already blown out by $40 million and the Auditor-General has said he will be reporting again when Parliament resumes
• The $422 EPAS project (which already includes a blowout of $14 million) is now facing a further blowout of at least $25 million and the completion date has been delayed by at least 12-18 months
• The new Director of EPAS Operations, appointed from interstate in October 2013, left the position within weeks of being appointed
• The new Director of EHealth, appointed in May 2013, is scheduled to leave later this year
• The Director of ICT left his position in September/October 2013
• Threats of legal action between Allscripts (vendors of software system for EPAS) and SA Health
• Significant probity issues being raised about the tendering processes for the ESMI and EPLIS projects
• Conflict of interest issues being raised within SA Health about the management of procurement of desktop services
• Millions of dollars wasted on IT Project Clinical Practice Support System (CPS) which had its rollout stopped after being installed in just the first two hospitals
• The Auditor-General has also confirmed he is still considering a whistleblower complaint from a senior SA Health officer relating to complaints about use of a Federal Government grant of $90 million.
“The Liberal Party has been provided with information by a number of public service whistleblowers as well as businesses involved in the ICT industry expressing grave concerns about the Weatherill Government’s mismanagement in this area,” said Mr Lucas.
“At a time when the Weatherill Government is cutting essential services such as the paediatric ward at the Modbury Hospital we cannot afford to be wasting tens of millions of dollars in financial mismanagement of ICT projects.”