The Ministry of Health does not have skilled and experienced personnel who can place orders on time and this is one of the major causes of the delay in meeting the demands of supplies in medicine and other facilities.
Permanent Secretary Philip Davies revealed this while giving his submission to the Public Accounts Committee on the 2014 audited accounts.
Davies says that the delay in signing of agreement contracts by the overseas suppliers also delays in receiving consumables.
When asked by Committee Member and Opposition MP, Ratu Sela Nanovo to clarify if the order could be placed six months before the expiry date of products instead of three months, Davies says that this will be expensive.
He says the further away they place the order, the more money they have to pay for further six months as sea freight.
Davies also stresses that if they order too far in advance there is a risk of products getting expired quickly.
He says the Ministry has noted that the stock level at the warehouse is critical and further delay can lead to stocks being totally wiped-off the shelves in the hospitals.
Davies also adds that they are looking forward to employing a stronger person to take up the position so that the orders are placed on time.
