Warsaw. Report after NIK inspection at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology

The Supreme Audit Office prepared a report after inspection at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw. The conclusions indicated that the institution's financial plans were not properly monitored, and subsequent restructuring attempts were ineffective.

The NIK in the Polish press agency sent noted that the control revealed a number of irregularities at the Institute, including the lack of reliable monitoring of financial plans, problems with debt collection and mismatched decisions regarding loans and loans. The Chamber pointed out that the level of debt and the financial loss incurred every year may threaten the continuation of the Institute's activities in the current form.

NIK emphasized that despite the attempts made by subsequent directors, it was not possible to achieve a positive financial result or stop the growing debt.

In the spring of 2023, the media wrote about the difficult financial situation of the iPinwho had to take out loans in a parabank. The facility was indebted to such an extent that it could not afford ongoing activity.

Restructuring did not bring results

IPIN financial plans, which, according to the Act on research institutes, should be the basis of financial resources management, in the years 2021–2022 they were not determined on dates enabling their implementation from January 1 of a given year. In addition, the Institute's financial plans were not properly monitored, which resulted in the lack of their update despite exceeding both revenues and costs.

The developed restructuring programs also did not bring the expected results and did not improve the financial situation of the institution, just like the audit commissioned by the Minister of Health. On the minister's order, a restructuring representative was employed at the Institute. NIK noted that, despite the difficult financial situation of the Institute and the necessary repair actions, a person without experience in the restructuring of medical entities was employed in this position. Inefficient restructuring actions resulted in a lack of financial liquidity and incurring obligations first in banks and then in non -bank institutions.

As at June 30, 2024, the Institute had loan obligations for an amount exceeding PLN 112 million and obligations due to other entities in the amount exceeding PLN 18 million.

As an non -economic activity, the Supreme Audit Office recognized the extension of the loan period, and then the exchange of a bank loan into a loan in an non -bank institution. This increased the margin and, consequently, financial costs. As a result of taking out another loan at an non -bank institution, the Institute lost a current loan in a current account, which resulted in an increase in financial costs and the NIK, the Supreme Audit Office was also non -economic. In addition, at the same time, the debt collection process was conducted unreliable, which led to the limitation period for claims for over 50,000. PLN and no liabilities were regulated in a timely manner, which resulted in the incurring high financial costs. In the years 2021–2024 (first half) the interest amount was PLN 2.36 million.

Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw

No required prohibition contracts

The findings of the inspection show that the Institute did not announce information on free places for scientific positions in the publishers indicated in the Act on research institutes. The number of publications in the years 2021–2022 was falling, which was influenced by the decreasing number of researchers.

NIK noted that the provisions of the Act on research institutes were also not observed to the extent regarding the obligation to conclude competition agreements with scientific employees. Over 26 percent researchers did not have such contracts signed. NIK emphasized that the Institute also did not commercialized the results of scientific research. As a result of the evaluation of the scientific level and the quality of research and development works, the Institute obtained in the discipline medical scientific category of B+, i.e. lower than it had before.

The scope of medical activity conducted by the Institute corresponded to the qualifications of the employed medical staff and the medical equipment and equipment held, however, was not in line with the data in the register of entities performing medical activities. Three clinics and the daily branch were in the register, despite the fact that such organizational cells were not in the structure of the Institute.

What is the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology?

The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology was created in 1951. His basic activity includes, among others Conducting and implementing scientific research and development works as well as conducting medical or preventive activities in the field of mental health disorders, nervous system diseases, genetic diseases, behavioral addictions and from psychoactive substances, and participation in shaping the state's health policy. The Institute is supervised by the Minister of Health.

In September 2024, the position of IPIN director was taken by Piotr Nowicki, former head of the Provincial Hospital in Poznań. In industry medical media described as “manager successfully in hospital restructuring”.