Africa-Press – Mauritius. Last week this paper’s editorial commended what at first sight looked like a belated attempt by the government to structure the process of procurement of medical supplies which run into billions annually from the public purse and taxpayers’ pockets.
However, given the track record of the Ministry of Health and that of Commerce through the State Trading Corporation during and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, for sourcing everything from vaccines, through non-functional Pack & Blister ventilators, to masks, supplies and drugs like Molnupiravir from hardware shops, we had every reason to take with a pinch of salt Minister Jagutpal’s statement that « for the purpose of good governance, there is need for accountability and transparency».
Both accountability and transparency had indeed been severely battered during the pandemic. Even in the simplest saga of vaccine purchases we still have no consolidated figure of amounts spent for the quantities secured, including those that were gifted to the country and those that perished from overstocking.
Their forced administration under coercive conditions with a controversial consent form, the priorities granted to working employees at the expense of the most vulnerable, marred what should have been an efficiently administered campaign.
As for the tragedy that befell the most vulnerable of our citizens, those who needed twice or thrice weekly dialysis in safe and medically controlled conditions to live on among their relatives, Mr Jagatpal did his level best to avoid any inquiry on administrative and medical negligence that proved fatal for eleven of those forced to the New Souillac Dialysis Centre and, when forced to do so, has again done his level best since the investigative report was handed to him earlier this year, to hide and duck his responsibilities unto the bereaved families.
They have been praying that the DPP orders a judicial inquiry as the only way to help them close those disturbing chapters in their hearts and minds. So much for transparency and accountability.
To come back to the Bill the Minister has presented to Parliament this week about the new Authority he proposes as lead agency, to govern and control the health procurement process and contracts worth several billions annually, we can concur that a reliable and dependable mechanism, using cutting edge IT technology, is absolutely indispensable to minimise hiccups, disruptions, overstocking and out-of-shelf life pharmaceuticals and a variety of medical supplies, as well as their costs to the Treasury.
But questions have been raised in Parliament, in particular by Hon Reza Uteem, regarding a Board whose Chairperson and members shall be appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister and on such terms and conditions as the Prime Minister may determine – similarly to what obtains in the case of the Procurement Policy Office and the Central Procurement Board, created under the Public Procurement Act.
The same holds for the post of Director. Is that a worrying sign that another jackpot for loyalists and courtesans could well be in the offing, a possibility reinforced by the clause that states.
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