A contract worth between $30 and $35 million has been awarded to Infotech Caribbean Ltd through sole selective tendering but there is no underhandedness in the matter, says Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan. Infotech is a leading Port-of-Spain-based IT solutions and services provider in the Caribbean, in existence for 36 years.
Its CEO is Lorcan Camps, a Guardian Media Ltd board member. Khan was responding to questions from the T&T Guardian about claims from Diego Martin West independent candidate Phillip Alexander that Infotech benefited from preferential treatment.
In a media release shortly after the launch of the National Health Card at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, yesterday, Alexander said, “I would like to suggest to the Health Minister he gives details as to how the contract for this system was awarded. “I am being told the company was given the contract through a sole select model benefiting from preferential treatment and inside information without the project being put out for tender.
“The company named as beneficiary is Infotech.
“The name Lorcan Camps has been mentioned as someone with whom the minister is acquainted,” Alexander stated.
“As this is such an important idea (the health card) it would be a shame for it to begin its life mired in rumours of corruption and underhanded dealing.”
Contacted for a response, Khan said Infotech was given the award through sole selective tendering because Infotech was the same company that did the health card for the diabetics system in 2007. “I just used them. But it was not a case of just handing the contract to them.
“The contract was hammered out between the National Insurance Property Development Co (Nidpec) and Ministry of Health technocrats.”
Khan also dismissed as “rubbish” claims by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley that there was a link between the company assisting the UNC’s teleforum election campaign and the company behind the National Health Card. He said Alexander’s was a case of sour grapes because he did not get contracts to fund his campaign.
Alexander said in a newspaper article he had funding challenges.
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said at the launch of the National Health Card yesterday there were already 33,000 people registered for it. He said it was going to become compulsory for all citizens to have the card and it would take about eight months to complete their registration. People from other countries who have been living in T&T for decades but have not been regularised will not get the card until they get a nationality certificate.
The card, which will contain citizens’ medical and personal data, will allow them free medication for certain diseases at listed pharmacies across T&T. Khan said the card would increase efficiency, reduce waste and loss of medical drugs and allow citizens to access medical treatment anywhere in an emergency.
Data from the card will be monitored by a new C-40 medical drugs centre. The centre will be able to track how medical supplies are being distributed. Khan said the card was to be followed by a biometric card. He dismissed the suggestion that the launch of the card was an election ploy.
He said the idea was concretised four years ago after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed her desire to have a proper record of medical services. Chief Medical Officer Colin Furlonge said $800 million was spent annually on medical supplies, which is one-fifth of the budgetary allocation to the Health Ministry.
33,000 registered
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said at the launch of the National Health Card yesterday there were already 33,000 people registered for it. He said it was going to become compulsory for all citizens to have the card and it would take about eight months to complete their registration. People from other countries who have been living in T&T for decades but have not been regularised will not get the card until they get a nationality certificate.
The card, which will contain citizens’ medical and personal data, will allow them free medication for certain diseases at listed pharmacies across T&T. Khan said the card was to be followed by a biometric card. He dismissed the suggestion that the launch of the card was an election ploy.
He said the idea was concretised four years ago after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed her desire to have a proper record of medical services.