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Queries over Health Ministry purchase of 300 air-purification systems
Controversy surrounds an alleged deal by the Health Ministry to purchase 300 air-purification systems for state hospital ICUs.
These 300 air-purification systems/air sterilizers said to cost in total over Rs. 300 million are part of a list of items due to be bought through World Bank funding and procured by UNICEF for the Health Ministry, the Sunday Times understands.
The total funding being extended by the World Bank for such purchases including the air-purification systems under the project ‘Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness’ implemented by the Health Ministry, amounts to US$ 128 million.
Sources alleged that the tender for these air-purification systems has already been floated and it was only after that, the ministry was trying to drum up requests from state hospitals to gather the numbers.
Documents in the possession of the Sunday Times reveal that bids for 10 items including the air-purification systems have been invited by UNICEF under the number LITB-2020-9157571 dated April 14, 2020.
The sources alleged that usually specifications for such items should be given by the relevant technical people but in this instance the specifications had been “targeted” and no technical input sought.
The usual procedure is also for the state hospitals to send their requirements and for the ministry to compile a full list, check out dire necessity and the funding available, seek technical evaluation and then call the tender, the sources explained. “But in this case nothing like that happened,” they added.
They also stressed that this purification system has been tried out in South Korea but had failed to make an impact on COVID-prevention.
When the Sunday Times contacted Health Ministry Secretary, Bhadrani Jayawardena, on her mobile on Friday seeking an interview to get clarification, a person who answered her mobile requested that an email be sent. Even though the email was sent there was no response up to yesterday.
When the Sunday Times contacted the Project Director of ‘Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness’ Dr. Jayasundara Bandara, he said that a preliminary request had been made to the Health Ministry (for air-purification systems) by various groups of consultants and this request was then handed over to him.
He said that the request was then looked over and forwarded to UNICEF to check the availability of the equipment. That has been given over for evaluation and after that we (his team) have written to the Health Ministry Secretary and the Director-General who will review it through a technical expert committee and select which equipment is needed.
Whatever procurements that have been made between January 1 and April 2 related to COVID by the Health Ministry will be reimbursed through the project, Dr. Bandara said, adding that the project includes both the immediate emergency response and health system preparedness.
When asked about the technical aspects, he said that he could not comment because “I am not a specialist on that. All I can say is that there is a request and I am facilitating their purchase and bringing down those things. We are planning to import 300 air purification systems to be distributed and placed in hospitals where there are any patients being managed at secondary and tertiary care”.
Dr. Bandara could not say from where they would be imported because it is still in the evaluating stage and there are many offers.
“So probably next week we may be able to say which purification system that we will want to select,” added Dr. Bandara.
Many health officials who declined to be identified expressed ignorance about the tender and insisted that it has not been finalized yet.
“It is a long process and no decision has been taken yet with regard to the list,” one said, giving the different sections of the ministry which are involved in the process as including the Medical Supplies Division, the Bio-Medical Service, the Medical Service, etc.
The official also explained the processes of setting up Technical Evaluation Committees.
When asked specifically whether a request has gone from the ministry to state hospitals that these air-purification systems are available and to seek them for their institutions, the official rejected it, saying “it would be unethical”.
Contacted by the Sunday Times whether they had been asked for technical input by the ministry with regard to the air-purification systems, the College of Microbiologists declined to comment. It is this college which has to give its technical expertise with regard to this purification system.