Tufton: No issue with procurement process for neuro drill

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has defended the procurement process surrounding the purchase of a neurosurgical drill for the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC), asserting that the contract was awarded in full compliance with the law.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday after a tour of the Linstead Hospital, Tufton said: “With all the hype regarding this particular instrument, I have not heard anyone questioning that the process was somehow breached.”

The minister was responding to fresh questions posed this week by Opposition Spokesman on Health Dr Alfred Dawes, who maintained that the equipment was overpriced and called for investigations by the auditor general and Integrity Commission.

Tufton said he had reflected on the matter and that he has confidence in the integrity of the process.

“I, up to this morning, I reminded myself how the matter was managed through to the final determination,” he said.

According to the minister, the process began with the issuance of a tender document developed by a panel that included surgeons who regularly use the equipment. The tender was publicly advertised and open to all registered contractors with the Public Procurement Commission in accordance with legal requirements.

He outlined that three bids were received and assessed by an evaluation committee. The recommendations were then reviewed and validated by the Public Procurement Committee before the contract was awarded.

“My perspective as the policy maker, I only want to ensure that the process was followed,” Tufton emphasised.

The minister added that he was unfamiliar with the company awarded the contract until the controversy emerged.

“The company that was awarded the contract was only known to me when the controversy started; however, it is a registered business,” he noted. “From my understanding, they were around from 2007, long before I was a minister.”

Tufton also disclosed that he spoke with surgeons at the Bustamante Hospital, who confirmed the equipment’s broad utility.

“They have assured that the instrument was not only a drill but has several components that allow them to participate in at least five categories of surgeries,” he explained.

According to him, the hospital handles approximately 2,500 surgeries annually, with half expected to benefit from the new equipment. “And they (surgeons) were very adamant, very passionate, about the value of the piece of equipment because it saves lives, and that is what matters to me,” he said. “Everything else is hype, and hype doesn’t save lives,” he added.

When asked whether the two other bids were lower than the winning bid, Tufton advised, “Access that information via the access to information route.”

ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com