‘It wasn’t me’

– Lawrence denies direct involvement in emergency drug procurement

Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence said she was not involved in the “process” for the procurement of $1.5 billion in “emergency” drugs for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), including a $605 million award to Trinidadian Company ANSA McAL, which has over the last two weeks come in for severe criticism.

While Lawrence had previously admitted to fast tracking the contract, she told media operatives at a press conference at the National Communications Network studios yesterday that as minister she “is not involved in the process of procurement.

The minister is involved in declaring that there is an emergency and declaring the need for us to implement whatever mechanisms are in place.”

She explained that at the time the decision was made to fast track the contract there was no board directing the affairs of the hospital, so the responsibility fell to the minister to make a decision.

The minister also indicated that she requested the new GPHC board conduct an investigation into the procurement process being used by the hospital. This investigation, which is yet to begin, is expected to provide details on how the contract which ANSA McAL has already begun fulfilling was awarded without the knowledge of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

Lawrence said that on February 3, she held a meeting with GPHC’s senior management at which she was informed that in excess of 200 types of drugs were short. A stock count confirmed that 287 types of drugs were out of stock.

The minister also reported being informed that the supply crisis had developed because of gaps in the system which resulted in purchases from the private sector on a needs basis.

Having identified that an emergency existed, Lawrence said, she asked for advice on the way forward since tenders for 2017 drug supplies had not yet gone out. She explained that the regular tendering process would have taken three, four or even six months to acquire the supplies and claimed she was “instructed” to go to the shortlist and request that companies there bid to supply the medications in a much shorter time frame.

These companies were to have tendered to supply the drugs within a twoweek period. ANSA McAL, New GPC, Chirosyn Discovery and Health 2000 were the companies invited to bid. Other companies, which were under investigation for failing to deliver on other contracts, were disqualified from the bidding process.

The minister could not say how these companies were selected for the shortlist, she also could not state whether the companies had applied for or been granted pre-qualification status.