The European Union’s support for the health sector in partner countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Zimbabwe suffers from poor coordination on the ground, the European Court of Auditors pointed out on Wednesday.
“It is urgent to act so that European funds are used more effectively. We must improve the criteria for allocating funds, ensure that management costs are kept at a reasonable level and find solutions to make projects sustainable. “, urges George-Marius Hyzler, the member of the Court responsible for the audit in question.
The projects examined concerned free care, the organization of training for health professionals and the reconstruction of health centers.
Empty shelves in dispensaries, underused equipment because it was supplied in excess during uncoordinated interventions, medicines and vaccines only available in small quantities, out of stock for months for essential items… These are some of the things -some of the auditors’ findings.
“The cascade of actors involved in the implementation of projects causes intervention costs to inflate,” deplores the Court. Because in most cases, implementing partners and contractors charge management fees “sometimes twice as high” as the amount allocated for interventions, in areas such as maternal and child health or nutrition.
The auditors also pointed out problems with the sustainability of aid, in the absence of strategies following the cessation of injections of funds. “The beneficiary governments do not have sufficient budgetary resources and are reluctant to commit.”
The Court of Auditors provides a series of recommendations to the Commission. In total, EU support for the health sector in “partner countries” amounts to more than €2 billion for the period 2021-2027.
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