KUWAIT CITY, Sept 15: MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei on Wednesday asked Minister of Health Dr Hilal Al-Sayer to look into the alleged irregularities in the awarding of medical equipment tenders, which were purportedly granted to an influential company through the support of a top ministry official.
Al-Tabtabaei also accused some parties of violating the Public Tenders Law by manipulating the reports of technical committees tasked to study the offers and awarding tenders to unqualified companies through the support of influential officials.
He said some companies offer the equipment free of charge only to win the tender or convince the ministry to sign contracts with them at a cost much higher than the purchase price of the equipment.
He pointed out some companies “put poison in honey” by striking a deal with opportunists and influential officials at the ministry.
He revealed the technical medical departments made arrangements in advance to ensure that the preferred companies win the tenders.

Stressing the need to stop the irregularities, Al-Tabtabaei urged the minister to quickly take the required steps to prevent the manipulation of the terms of the tenders, ensure transparency in awarding contracts, and give equal opportunities to the companies.
He cited as an example the tender for the renovation of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. He said the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) cancelled a decision issued on Aug 11, 2010 on awarding the tender to a certain company after discovering the latter was not qualified.
He contended this decision only proves there are violations in the awarding of tenders at the ministry. He added some parties have been putting pressure on the committee to rescind its decision.

Affirming he will closely follow up the issue, Al-Tabtabaei pointed out there are allegations that some parties are trying to manipulate a report being prepared in this regard to award the tender to the same company despite claims that the latter provided equipment for administering anesthesia which, according to official ministry reports, caused injuries and death to a number of patients.
The lawmaker also appealed to Al-Sayer to open an investigation on speculations that a ministry official, who owns shares in the company, is controlling the awarding of most tenders.