The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez recently visited the GHA’s newly created Internal Audit Department, which aims to enhance operational efficiency across the GHA and, in turn, drive cost savings where possible.

The new office will be led by Mr Terence Chichon, an accountant and auditor with extensive experience in financial oversight. Mr Chichon was recruited following a full recruitment process.

The role of the new department will be to conduct comprehensive reviews of the GHA’s financial operations and processes, without losing focus on the expanding needs of patients and the community.

Mr Terence Chichon said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Head of the Internal Audit Department of the GHA, an institution critical to our community's well-being. With over two decades of experience in conducting thorough and impactful audits, I am committed to identifying opportunities to achieve operational improvements and deliver sustainable cost saving initiatives. My goal is to work collaboratively with the team and other GHA staff to ensure that resources are optimised to deliver the highest quality of care to patients."

GHA Director General, Kevin McGee, said: “We are delighted to welcome Terence to the GHA team as his professional skills will serve us well to strengthen our organisation’s financial position. We look forward to his contribution at the helm of the new Internal Audit Department and building up a good working relationship that will be of benefit to the GHA and ultimately to the services we provide for our patients.”

The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, added: “Since I was elected, I have been keen to establish greater efficiency within the GHA, without affecting patient services. I am optimistic that the internal audit office will assist in this endeavour. This is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and driving cost savings, where possible, across the organisation.

“The GHA is a huge organisation, with a very large budget. With our new audit office, the GHA will now be better placed to ensure that there is minimal waste across the organisation and that the taxpayer receives the maximum value for money.

“I was delighted to have visited the new office recently and look forward to working closely with the GHA and Mr Chichon in the coming weeks and months.”

Note to Editors

Biography – Terence Chichon

Terence Chichon is a distinguished accountant and auditor bringing over 20 years of experience in audit and operational analysis to government departments, agencies and authorities. For 16 years, he served as a manager at the Gibraltar Audit Office, where he played a pivotal role in overseeing audits, optimising finance functions and cost effective management. Throughout his career, Mr Chichon has successfully led audits across a variety of sectors, including the Treasury Department and the GHA, uncovering key areas for improvement. He is a member of the Public Service Commission Board. Mr Chichon is a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant after successfully completing the ACCA in 2001. In addition, he has many years of accountancy teaching experience at the Gibraltar College teaching the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), providing accountancy-training courses for the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB) and as a university degree lecturer for the Gibraltar University.

Mr Chichon has provided pro bono accountancy services for various charitable organisations, including the Holy Trinity Cathedral for the last 13 years, and previously for the Gibraltar Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre.