NEW GPC Inc., reportedly the Caribbean’s leading pharmaceutical company, has objected in the “strongest possible terms” to two articles carried in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News quoting A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon and Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan on the bids made by the company for the supply of Coartem, an anti-malarial drug requested by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

The government, through the Ministry of Health, requested in the bid document the supply of Coartem, an anti-malarial drug. The bids were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance, for the supply and delivery of anti-malarial drugs on Tuesday.
New GPC said it submitted all relevant information to the Tender Board as part of the process and, as such, is in compliance with all regulations.
New GPC’s bid of $261, 568, 442 is a reflection of the fact that the Coartem is a branded drug which costs more than generic drugs, the company clarified in a statement yesterday.
The bid prepared by New GPC was done in collaboration with Ansa McAl and Novartis, the pharmaceutical giant that manufactures Coartem.
The company believes that the acts by the media entities (Kaieteur News and Stabroek News), as well as APNU and the AFC, are intended to prejudice the decision of the Tender Board, something that must not be tolerated.
“In fact, it is tantamount to blackmailing the Tender Board,” the company declared.
“Questioning the amount of a company’s bid is absurd and should be condemned. Should this sort of behaviour be allowed to continue, it would mean that companies prior to the evaluation of bids by the Tender Board are suddenly called upon by the media and politicians alike to answer questions on bids,” New GPC argued.
It said the other bidder’s offer being lower cannot be accounted for by New GPC; and it is mind-boggling for New GPC to be asked why the other bid was lower.
The company said it  notes with dismay the Kaieteur News article captioned: ‘$228M bid variance a public scandal’.  It also said the suggestion by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon that the bid variance is a “public scandal” is ludicrous.
“Harmon, an attorney by profession ought to be objective in his reasoning and should not seek to accuse New GPC without standing. He should also seek to find out why it is that the other bid was so low on the anti-malarial product requested,” the company said.
It is however unfortunate that Harmon, who, based on his statements published in the Kaieteur News is unfamiliar with the bidding process, has opted to make callous comments. That in itself should be deemed a “public scandal.”
Over the years, concerns have risen over the number of counterfeit drugs that are being administered to patients, in particular anti-malarial drugs. It should be noted that Mr. Harmon’s colleague Member of Parliament Dr George Norton, in March this year, lamented the fact that something needs to be done about the number of counterfeit drugs being sold here.
Like Dr Norton, Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran also acknowledged that counterfeit drugs are an old problem that needs to be solved. He said the low levels of potency in the knockoff malaria drugs can lead to pathogens developing resistance to known medications, because the illegitimate drugs are not used correctly.
As a result of the increase in sale of counterfeit anti-malarial drugs, the government of Guyana took a decision in 2004 to import only branded anti-malarial drugs; the Coartem being among the choice of branded drugs.
Coartem has been described as the “gold standard” medication prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is a combination drug.
New GPC said it is “important for those who are seeking to do investigative journalism to find out just as they are currently, why it is that the other bidder bid so low on the Coartem and whether that bidder placed bids for all the items requested”.
And as Mr. Harmon said, the issue is indeed a serious one as the tax payers’ monies are being used and their health is at risk.
New GPC said it is not opposed to an investigation of any sort. It should be noted however, that the bid document is within the public domain and could be easily had by Kaieteur News, APNU and the AFC so that they can understand the specifications for the drugs requested and by extension the variance in bids by the two companies.  New GPC Inc. said it  remains committed to supplying the people of Guyana with quality pharmaceuticals.