366 million US dollar drug contract to HDM Labs
The Parliamentary Opposition says it is considering complaining to the police about a multimillion-dollar drug contract awarded last year to US-based HDM Labs Inc.
The 366 million US dollar contract has raised eyebrows, because the company seems to have little experience in supplying pharmaceuticals to Guyana. However, on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Collette Adams, and Minister Volda Lawrence defended the award, saying that it was all done transparently and in keeping with procurement regulations. However, Wednesday, former Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, now in the Opposition chairs, said that he is awaiting Minister Lawrence’s promised statement on the details today in the National Assembly. “I await the Minister’s promised statement in the National Assembly and wish to advise her that under active consideration at this time is a report to the Guyana Police Force, the Audit Office of Guyana and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) for investigations.” He said that the minister must tell the House where HDM Labs, owned by New York-based Guyanese, Hardat Singh, supplied drugs to.
The PS had disclosed that she is aware that HDM supplied drugs to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation last year. “Please provide information that will bring comfort to the public that HDM Labs Inc. is a recognized and efficient supplier nationwide. Specifically, we would like to be informed about which companies/ institutions, apart from the Ministry of Public Health, HDM Labs Inc. supplied pharmaceuticals to and the quantities, within the last two years,” Edghill said in a statement yesterday on the matter. “Further, please state why companies that manufacture and distributes these pharmaceuticals, locally, were not offered an opportunity to provide these services. Notably, New GPC Inc. was not invited to tender in the restrictive bidding process.” Recently, leaked ministry’s documents disclosed that HDM came out winner above Ansa McAl Limited, Caribbean Medical Supplies, Global Healthcare Supplies, International Pharmaceutical Agency and Meditron Inc. All had submitted to deliver drugs to fulfill a shortage of drugs last year but they all, including HDM Labs, failed to meet the criteria.
(Kaieteur News)