Massive fraud in purchase of rapid antigen test kits – Minister
Chief Government Whip and Health and Media Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated in Parliament yesterday that the Health Ministry is investigating fraud committed in the purchase of rapid antigen test kits during the COVID period.
The Minister also said that Parliament will be informed about the details of this fraud in the future.
The Minister revealed that a company that was not registered with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has spent the largest amount for the purchase of rapid antigen test kits.
In addition, Rs. 2.2 billion of public money has been spent on the purchase of two million rapid antigen test kits from this company.
The Minister said this in response to an oral question raised by MP Rauff Hakeem.
A total of Rs. 3.2 billion was spent on the purchase of COVID vaccines and rapid antigen test kits during the pandemic. Of this, Rs. 2.2 billion was spent on this company which was not even registered with the NMRA.
Meanwhile, Rs 3.2 billion was also spent on purchasing PCR kits. The total amount spent by the government on PCR kits and rapid antigen test kits was Rs. 6,422 million.
In a lengthy response to a question raised by MP Hakeem, Dr. Jayatissa also said there are 26 companies in the list. Out of these 26 companies, PCR kits and rapid antigens test kits have been purchased from seven companies. George Steuart & Company Ltd has provided rapid antigen test kits and PCR kits. However, the company called Divasa Pharma Ltd which provided Rs. 2 million worth of rapid antigen test kits, while the government has spent Rs. 2, 200 million to purchase these rapid antigen test kits, is not an NMRA registered company.