GOVERNMENT has ordered the National Pharmaceutical Company
(NatPharm) to cancel all contracts for the supply and delivery of medicines and
surgical sundries by Drax Consulting SAGL.
In a letter dated 5 June 2020, addressed to NatPharm
managing director Mrs Flora Sifeku, acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Health and Child Care, Dr Gibson Mhlanga advised that the cancellation must
be done with immediate effect.
He said NatPharm must, by this Friday, be able to prove
that the cancellation had been effected accordingly.
“You are being directed to cancel all contracts that you
had with Drax SAGL with immediate effect. Please be advised that this process
needs to be completed by latest Friday 12th June 2020 and all documentation
showing cancellation of the same to be submitted in my office by then. Please
treat this issue with the urgency that it requires,” wrote Dr Mhlanga.
Contacted for comment, Dr Mhlanga confirmed the latest
position adding that he was following instructions from Treasury.
He could, however, not be drawn into providing more
details. Mrs Sifeku also confirmed having received the letter, but
could not comment.
Represented by Mr Delish Nguwaya in Zimbabwe, Drax Sagl
entered into an agreement with Government for the supply and delivery of
medicines and consumables worth US$20 million.
The drugs started coming into the country at the beginning
of the year in batches.
Sometime this year, Drax Sagl was also awarded a tender to
provide Covid-19 medicines and was subsequently given preferential treatment
for the release of its Covid-19 emergency medical supplies that were stuck at
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
There was a public outcry after it emerged that the company
was overpricing its Covid-19 supplies. Herald
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