MP Sharman suspects corruption
Health Minister Patrick Pengel on Wednesday had to answer many questions that were presented by Members of Parliament in response to the plans to set up an ambitious computerized system. The Physicians’ Information System (HIS) will reportedly cost about € 4 million. MP Carl Breeveld (DOE) and MP Dew Sharman (VHP) suspect that the contract will underhandedly be awarded to a local company. MP Sharman who is also a physician pointed out that doctors and others support the plan which serves their personal interests. “The project was discussed in small dark rooms by 15 to 20 doctors. I know what I am talking about,” said the chairman of the Association of RGD Doctors.
MP Sharman read an email in which the Health Ministry informs the supplier that the selection will take place on June 30 and that the contract will be awarded on July 31. The email was sent even though there has not even been a public call for tenders. MP Sharman claimed that the Health Ministry has hired a company that has ties with companies that will be awarded the contract to coordinate the selection procedure. “These are all gigantic companies. We also know where the lines run,” said MP Sharman who added that certain people have personal interests in the project. MP Sharman is puzzled by the fact that millions are being made available to the HIS project while there is a distressing shortage of medicines and sterile material at the local hospitals. He presented a list of 23 medicines that cannot be obtained via the State Health Insurance Fund (SZF). “I think that if we were in a more civilized country, the minister would have been asked to step down from office.” Minister Pengel strongly denied the accusations and pointed out that 155 physicians were consulted and that 97% supports the HIS. He claimed that the HIS will in fact help cut back on expenses and that the money that will become available will be used to purchase medicines. MP Sharman, however, kept insisting that “there is something fishy about the HIS project.”