The Comptroller and Audit General of India(CAG) has unearthed many flaws in the computer based systems at work at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) facility, noting that this faulty negligence could cause the institute its integrity.
The CAG, in its audit report, has highlighted that despite RCC’s efforts in integrating computerized technology with each of the institute’s functions, irregularities in the system have outweighed the good it has done. The most notable fault, as per the CAG report, is the lack of proper IT planning and the absence of IT steering committees, which has subsequently led to development of systems that lack focus on achieving a set of goals. Secondly, the Hospital Information System (HIS) is not incorporated with the financial and accounting software, creating a snag in each of these processes. With transactions amounting to almost Rs. 40 crore annually, the system is highly vulnerable to frauds due absence of up-to-date computerized logging systems. Another major shortcoming, pointed out by CAG, is the absence of User Requirement Specifications (URS) system because of which the evaluation of the computerized system’s success in achieving the purpose, its efficiency and effectiveness, could not be assessed quantifiably.
Currently, the RCC computer systems do not function with the use of a user ID and password. Lack of a complex password secure system implies that anyone can access restricted information without a logging entry of the same. On the whole, the CAG audit report is suggestive of the lack of proper planning and implementation of safe and sophisticated computerized system that have led to denial of faultless service to patients and created inconsistencies and inefficiency in the comprehensive cancer treatment centre. Improper computerized system have also led to discrepancies in staff salaries as not-entitled payment of Rs. 34.59 lakh and a total cost of Rs. 26.36 lakh in additional manpower has been incurred by the institute.