Auditing and accountability within the public hospital system: the need for structural reforms

A recent report by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in NSW highlighted that some accounting controls for cash handling in public hospitals are inadequate. Given the number of public hospitals in Australia and the amount of cash being handled, it is essential that efficient accounting and auditing systems are established for these activities. This paper examines several major shortcomings in cash-handling methods used by NSW public hospitals and outlines how the system may be improved. The authors are currently developing a national survey to extend this analysis.