Tenders for pharmaceutical supplies - it's not the kind of thing that usually catches a whole lot of public attention, but within the medical industry the award of these lucrative tenders are closely watched. From our experience, the tender process has often been a way to reward favored friends in the Pharma business, and also for politicians to get a cut of the action.
That's why it was somewhat encouraging when the new minister named an extended tender committee with input from the Belize Pharmacy Association and the Belize Medical and Dental Association. He told us, quote, "I have added them to ensure more inclusive approaches." End quote.
But, that transparency gesture went awry rather quickly. The Minister Kevin Bernard confirmed that both those associations have been asked to submit the names of new representatives, quote, "due to members being related". We're told that the heads in the Ministry of Health and Wellness felt there was a conflict of interest with the members named by the professional associations.
But we spoke to one of these rejected members, BMDA Rep Dr Greg Pott. He told us that he was quote, "very surprised and angry" by the allegation of a conflict of interest - especially since he signed a "no-conflict" declaration before taking up the post. For the Ministry to then turn around and conclude that he has a conflict and cannot serve is he says, quote, "impugning on his reputation."
Professionally, Dr Pott - who has been a medical practitioner for about 50 years - told us that he had misgivings about how the process was going from the very start and he let his concerns be known. He said that from the beginning he was not pleased with the methodologies, and added, quote, "I have sat on tendering committees before; our method was to look at the product and the price; and not take the supplier into account." He adds, quote, "they were looking at suppliers at certain point." He adds, quote, "I found that very distasteful (and) made it well known to the committee."
So where does that leave things? Well, earlier this week we were told that the committee had been dissolved and the chairman had resigned. But, the Minister said, not so. In a comment via text message, he said quote, "The tender committee is meeting. there was only a delay... (for the) BMDA and Pharmacy Association to resubmit new reps. The pharmacy association has submitted. The committee should wrap up this week and as such will not cause any delay in our time frame set out to get these finalized." End quote.
But, as far was we know the BMDA has not named a new representative and the process is currently behind schedule. In a letter to the BMDA president Uldine Wright he says, quote, "the Ministry reserve(s) the right to review these processes to ensure approvals are done in a timely manner to avoid anymore undue delays that will cause unnecessary stock out and unavailability of vital pharmaceutical and related mental supplies." End quote.
