Virus advisors denounce $5.2 million price gouging for ventilators
A day after an official of the Comptroller General’s office was sanctioned for ordering overpriced face masks a new storm erupted on Friday, April 24, over a purchase of ventilators at $49,000 apiece when an investigation revealed they can be bought for less than $7,000. leaving the Ministry of the Presidency scrambling to provide answers.
The $5.2 million price tag for 100 ventilators first came to light when members of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health (Minsa) in the fight against the coronavirus raised concerns on Saturday, April 25, over the direct purchase, by the Ministry of the Presidency, of 100 Allied brand AHP-300 ventilators from the Muriba Company Inc.
The first to react was the dialectologist and pediatrician, Xavier Sáez-Llorens, who on his Twitter account attacked the purchase “at excessive prices”. He asked for an investigation “because it tarnishes the transparent work carried out by Minsa to combat COVID19.”
A few minutes after Sáez-, intensive care specialist Julio Sandoval, also part of the team, wrote: “I join your concern. We have worked unconditionally and ad honorem at the forefront of this pandemic, avoiding a health tragedy. “He closed his message asking for a detailed explanation of the purchase process from the Presidency.
The Vice Minister of the Presidency, Juan Carlos Muñoz, who signed the letter of commitment to pay for the purchase explained at a Friday, April 24 at a press conference that the acquisition of respirators is “crucial”, since they represent the difference between life and death.
In the commitment, the price agreed by per unit is $48,950. The purchase is covered by the decree of March 13, which declared ta state of national emergency, for the coronavirus. The quote was received on April 14.
The letter mentions that the devices must be delivered in 10 business days
