Martinique: Court of Auditors criticizes “poor management” of general social security fund

"Degraded quality of service", "poor management": the Court of Auditors points the finger at the functioning of the general social security fund (CGSS) of Martinique, in a report published on Wednesday.

"Very degraded until 2023, the service provided to policyholders has seen an increase at the beginning of 2024 for most of the fund's activities", underlines the Court of Auditors in the summary of this report, estimating nevertheless that "the situation remains generally fragile and unsatisfactory for local users".

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For example, "the CGSS processed retirement application files in 183 days, which is almost 60% longer than the national average," the financial magistrates specify.

Concerning the health branch, "the unprocessed treatment sheets represent more than EUR 300,000 of treatment which could not be reimbursed", the Court of Auditors also notes.

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Created in 1947, the General Social Security Fund (CGSS) of Martinique pays health and maternity insurance benefits, work accidents and occupational diseases and retirement benefits, and collects social security contributions from the general scheme and that of agricultural operators.

This represents 3 billion euros in reimbursement and 1.7 billion in levies.

In addition to the service's dysfunctions, the governance and management of this central body in the Martinican health system are the subject of strong criticism from the Court of Auditors.

"Successive boards of directors have not complied with all the rules in force and have misused the organisation's resources," the report accuses.

"In July 2023, the current chairman of the board of directors requested to benefit from work equipment similar to that of the agents (email address, computer)" as well as an allowance, cites for example the Court of Auditors.

Remuneration that does not appear in the Social Security code.

The report also highlights "major deviations in public procurement" and "a lack of management of human resources".

In their conclusion, the financial magistrates consider that "a new collective project, based on a management committee, an organisation chart and profoundly renewed internal processes, is now essential".

Otherwise, they add, "the fund should be placed under provisional administration" to achieve "its recovery".