The price-gouging scandal linked to the purchasing of ventilators for use in Panama’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic has led members of the National COVID-19 Guidance  Commission to stress the need to create a medical-scientific committee to evaluate the acquisition of supplies and equipment to face the crisis. 

The reaction comes after the Ministry of the Presidency planned to purchase 100 AHP-300 ventilators for $5.2 million from the  Muriba Company, Inc.

The Commission says  that it is imperative to avoid improperly consulted and not advised purchases, "as has clearly happened in this case, since they are not directed at the real needs of patients."

The government is urged to approve a decree ordering the formation of an Ad Honorem Scientific Committee made up of five medical and scientific professionals with related and relevant specialties who are in charge of analyzing this type of acquisition. of supplies and equipment taking into account guidelines of Transparency International.

Wrong type

The Guidance Committee document, signed by 62 doctors highlighted that the overpriced ventilators were not the ones that will be needed by most of the patients who require assisted ventilation but continuous support ventilators, whose use may be required for weeks or months on a constant basis by the same patient," the document specifies.

After the controversy over the purchase, the Vice Minister of the Presidency, Juan Carlos Muñoz,  who struggled  to justify the purchase at a Saturday, April 25  press conference reported that the  company had canceled the sale sale "due to world demand " He invited any supplier watching the TV transmission able to offer a better price to call,

Health Minister Rosario Turner said that two smartphone  calls were received during the transmission.