❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the management of remaining COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs), including storage costs and disposal strategies. The government acknowledges ongoing distribution efforts and warehouse consolidation, but disagrees with some aspects of the Auditor General's report.
AnsweredQoN 1448Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to Recommendation 4 of the Office of the Auditor General's report titled Financial Audit Results - State Government 2021-22 - Part 2: COVID-19 Impacts which states: "WA Health needs to decide the best use for the remaining stock of RATs, including expired stock, to ensure they are appropriately destroyed or used in some way by the community or community based organisations", and I ask? (2) how will WA Health respond to this recommendation? (3) how many rapid antigen testing kits remain in the Government stockpile? (4) what was the cost for Health Support Services to procure eight additional warehouses for storage of these testing kits? (5) how many of these warehouses are still being utilised currently? (6) does the State Government support the findings and recommendations of the the Auditor General's report? (7) if no to (5), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 June 2023
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Response time
8 days
(1) WA Health continues to execute successful strategies to distribute free RATs into the community. Free RATs continue to be made available to the WA health system and the WA community through a variety of distribution channels. The government has been considering a strategy to sustainably dispose of expired RAT kits, if required.
(2) 18 million as of 14 June 2023.
(3 – 4) The eight warehousing facilities referred to in the report were used to store RATs, Personal Protective Equipment, and other goods essential to the pandemic response. Health Support Services is in the process of consolidating warehouses which will reduce the number of offsite storage facilities to five.
(5 – 6) No. Health Support Services’ response to the recommendations is provided on page 20 of the report.
(2) 18 million as of 14 June 2023.
(3 – 4) The eight warehousing facilities referred to in the report were used to store RATs, Personal Protective Equipment, and other goods essential to the pandemic response. Health Support Services is in the process of consolidating warehouses which will reduce the number of offsite storage facilities to five.
(5 – 6) No. Health Support Services’ response to the recommendations is provided on page 20 of the report.
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