As it transpires from the results of last year’s audits, there are four areas in the functioning of the state where the risk of corruption is relatively high: the functioning of local self-governments, the public healthcare system, public procurement and changing the status of rural land.
What corruption prone mechanisms have been identified by NIK auditors in the functioning of local self-governments? Not only do local authorities take decisions at their own discretion, but they disregard regulations as well. Among the activities threatened with corruption there are the following: disposal of municipal assets, municipal economic activity and recruitment of staff. The audited recruitment processes failed to provide equal opportunities for all applicants and they did not guarantee selection of the best candidates. In as many as 34, out of 45 public administration offices audited, recruitment procedures were breached.
A large number of patients awaiting medical treatment makes an area vulnerable to corruption, especially among those responsible for deciding on the availability of medical services. The NIK also indicates that there are dangers with regard to sponsoring clinical hospitals and doctors by pharmaceutical companies.
Public procurement comes as another area prone to corruption. Excluding orders from tender procedures and limitations on appeal proceedings can lead to irregularities. That is why the NIK recommends that supervision of public procurement procedures should be strengthened, especially at the internal level.
Rural land transformations are also not free from corruption. The NIK indicated many times in the past how crucial the problem was, and presented proposals for reducing potential irregularities. However, last year’s audits revealed that the problem still exists and that it stems from loopholes in the binding regulations, which leave too much room for discretion in the process of changing the status of farm land from agricultural to residential.
