The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has sought approval for an emergency purchase of $605m in drugs from ANSA McAl and concerns have been raised in some quarters over the lack of tendering and the possibility that the best price might not have been obtained.
Reforms to the public procurement system are meant to avoid such emergency placements and sources say it is unclear why the hospital has had to do this.
According to a letter seen by Stabroek News, Chief Executive Officer (Ag) of the GPHC, Allan Johnson wrote to the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Berkley Wickham on February 28, 2017 seeking approval for the emergency medical supplies.
The letter stated that the emergency supplies were authorised by Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence. It added that “The pharmaceuticals supplied by this company (ANSA McAl) was at the time of request available only from this supplier”.
Attached to the letter submitted by Johnson to Wickham was an invoice from ANSA McAl of the same date – February 28th, 2017 – under the signature of Pharmaceutical Manager, Sunesh Maikoo.
A wide range of drugs (118) were covered in the invoice including Amlodipine, Atorvastin, Gliclazide, Ibuprofen, Losartan Potassium, Metformin, Omeprazole, Paracetamol, Aciclovir, Human Albumin, Ampicillin, Anti-D Rhesus Immunoglobulin, Ciprofloxacin, Insulin (soluble), Metronidazole, Ketoconazole, Hydrocortisone, Liquid Antacid, Salbutamol, Risperidone, Diazepam, Methotrexate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride, Fentanyl Citrate, Morphine, Oxytocin and Pantoprazole.
A source said that in some cases the cost of the supplies in the invoice was far greater than the price offered by other bidders under public tender.
The source gave as an example the Aciclovir 250ml injection which the quotation prices at $6,880. This injection, used to treat viral infections such as Herpes Simplex, is available from other suppliers at a much lower cost.
Another pharmaceutical, the antibiotic 20g Clotrimoxazole cream, is listed at a unit price of $1,750 while it cost just $95 from other suppliers. Additionally 30g Anti-haemorrhoidal ointment which previously has been sourced by other suppliers at $200 was listed as costing $2,150 in the invoice.
Questions have also been raised as to why this “emergency” supply became necessary.
This newspaper understands that four out of the last five public tenders issued by GPHC in the last four months were postponed and then cancelled.
These tenders were advertised on October 2, 2016, November 6, 2016 and February 2, 2017 respectively. Questions have been raised as to why this occurred.
Attempts by Stabroek News yesterday to reach Johnson and Lawrence for comment proved futile as neither individual answered their phone.
