According to the results of a remote audit conducted by the Chamber of Accounts in June 2025, a number of serious problems were identified in these processes.

At the initiative of the Ministry of Health, 15 projects with a total value exceeding USD 1 billion are being implemented. Although most of these projects were launched in 2020–2024, as of April 1, 2025, only 28.5% of the borrowed funds have been utilized.

That is, 71.5% of the funds had not been utilized by the time of the audit, and for 5 projects, the utilization of funds had not even started, which raises serious concerns.

For example, under the agreement signed with the Korea Eximbank in 2021, the project “Construction of the National Oncology Center” (USD 125 million) has not yet begun to utilize funds.

In addition, in some projects, the rate of utilization is extremely low, with only 2.5% of funds used under agreements signed in 2021–2022.

The audit analysis revealed a number of systemic shortcomings and problems in project implementation:

• Lack of strategic planning — no clear and long-term strategy for the development of the healthcare sector has been developed;

• Inefficiency of consultants involved in the project — their responsibilities are not clearly defined, resulting in poor-quality work;

• Weak coordination in projects — lack of a systematic approach to investment utilization.

It should be noted that one of the most negative findings of the audit is the inefficient use of medical equipment.

Between 2018 and 2024, 15.9 thousand units of medical equipment worth USD 165.2 million were delivered to 649 medical institutions. However, 7.2% of them (1.1 thousand units) are not being used in practice.

The main reasons are:

• lack of suitable facilities for equipment;

• equipment not fully installed;

• technical malfunctions;

• shortage of qualified specialists;

• lack of necessary reagents.

Based on the audit results, the following measures were proposed to eliminate existing problems and improve project efficiency:

• strengthening liability and penalty mechanisms in contracts with consultants;

• developing a long-term strategy for healthcare sector development;

• promptly putting unused medical equipment into operation;

• establishing strict control over the utilization of investments.

During the audit, the identified problems and deficiencies were discussed with responsible officials, and relevant instructions were sent to the Ministries of Investments, Industry and Trade and Health to eliminate them and prevent their recurrence in the future.

In conclusion, effective management of large-scale international funds attracted to the healthcare sector, proper planning, and strengthening execution accountability are essential to achieving expected results.

Otherwise, these investments risk being used inefficiently without delivering the expected social benefits.