The Alberta Auditor has begun a review of procurement practices by the provincial Department of Health (AHS) citing concerns about the contract process and “potential conflict of interest.”
The trial, which Wiley said could expand to other tissues, “currently involves charter surgical facilities, drugs (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), and personal protective equipment for Covid-19.”
The audit announcement comes after media coverage of former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. He said it was removed from his position last month after launching an internal investigation into AHS contracts and procurement practices.
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Mentzelopoulos was fired from his position as AHS president and CEO on January 8th.
The Epoch Times were unable to obtain a copy of the letter, and Mentzelopoulos did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesman for the Health Minister’s office said Mentzelopoulos’ layoff was part of a previously announced overhaul of the health system, and that AHS would see the transition from the state’s health department to hospital service providers.
Mentzelopoulos’ allegations have been reviewed by the AHS, but “but the interpretation that her termination was due to a review of AHS’s specific procurement decisions is false,” Health Department spokesman Jesse Lampton stated stated in.
“We understand that AHS is reviewing these sourcing decisions and processes and will continue until the work is completed.”
Lampton said the department welcomed the auditor’s review “on whether AHS procurement practices have been properly followed in these issues,” and that it will cooperate with the investigation.
The Auditor’s office granted the Epoch Times’ request for comment, but did not respond to questions regarding specific reasons for the audit at each publication time.
Alberta Health Services told the Epoch Times it is considering the Menzelopoulos allegations and will not comment further until the auditor’s review is complete.
“We can see that AHS is conducting a review of the procurement procedures and processes related to the issues raised by the former CEO,” Ahs spokesman Holly Budd said in a statement. “In the interim, we have suspended the awarding of contracts involving parties involved in that review.”
Naheed Nencey, the NDP leader of Alberta’s opposition, said the former CEO’s claims were “the most shocking” he’s ever seen. He called for two more investigations by the RCMP, and another for a judicially led public inquiry by the state’s ethics secretary.
Nenshi has called on Alberta Prime Minister Daniel Smith, Health Minister Adriana Lagrange, and Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams to step aside until those investigations are completed.
Chandra Philip contributed to this report.
