A report by KPMG has highlighted significant shortcomings in the German government’s handling of personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings, detailed in a report commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and reported by Spiegel, indicate a lack of oversight and systematic risk management.
KPMG’s assessment, conducted in April, examined the collaboration between the ministry, responsible for issuing purchase orders and two other consulting firms tasked with the practical execution of these orders. The audit revealed a lack of “comprehensive oversight of the overall progress of PPE procurement” and a failure to implement “systematic risk management to identify potential risks.
Furthermore, KPMG identified weaknesses in cost control. According to the report, there was a lack of a “complete overview encompassing all costs” leading to “deficient traceability of funds and their deployment”. The ministry reportedly conceded to KPMG that a lack of personnel with a business administration background within the BMG organization contributed to these issues.
Germany acquired 5.8 billion masks at a cost of 5.9 billion euros. The findings raise concerns about transparency and accountability in the government’s pandemic response measures.
