New GPC denies supplying expired drugs to GPHC

NEW GPC is up in arms against claims made by the Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, that in 2016, it not only fell short in the delivery of drugs and medical supplies, but delivered expired drugs in the process.

In her written response to a string of questions put before the House by Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill, Minister Lawrence on Monday disclosed that $395,251,668 in supplies were not delivered within the required time frame. New GPC was among the companies identified, and according to the Public Health Minister, had failed to supply $381.1M in products. New GPC was also identified among the companies which had delivered expired or nearly expired drugs to the Ministry.

But on Tuesday, New GPC contended that the statements made by Minister Lawrence were erroneous. “The New GPC Inc. states unequivocally that it has never, under any circumstances, ever delivered expired or “nearly expired” goods to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation or the Ministry of Public Health,” the pharmaceutical company stated in a press statement.

“With regards to Georgetown Public Hospital contracts, the company is willing to furnish copies of delivery notes and invoices, which shows the batch number and expiry date for each and every line item supplied,” New GPC added.

It was noted that recording expiry dates and batch numbers on delivery documentation is standard practice for traceability of the products. Additionally, under the current delivery system New GPC is required to furnish a Delivery Notification showing all pending deliveriesm, including expiry dates and batch numbers, several days prior to actual delivery, the company further pointed out. This is to enable the Hospital staff to scrutinise same and plan for space to accommodate delivered items, the company pointed out.

“As regards to the alleged “non-delivery” of $381m in products, this is simply outrageous. The company received only $146,046,657M in contracts from the Hospital in 2016 so it is mathematically impossible for it to “fail to supply $381m”. From the $146m in contracts, $140,055,325 was delivered,” New GPC contended.

It further argued that it was the hospital which had initially refused to take the outstanding balance of $$5,991,332 because it was reportedly “stocktaking.” New GPC said the hospital subsequently alleged that the time for delivery had passed.

“Later, the hospital accepted delivery on one of the same items they had earlier refused, on a purchase order. All contracts for earlier years have been fulfilled 100%,” the company stated. For 2017, New GPC complained that it has not received “Any business from its bids” although it participated in several public tenders. The last bid was submitted on February 14, 2017.

“…nearly three months later it is still being “evaluated” by the Tender Board, while the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has now revealed they have already spent $1.3B in procuring medical supplies,” the company said.

For New GPC, the tender process is just a “smokescreen,” contending that the GPHC has been “secretly gifting G$1.3Bln in business to their preferred supplier, all neatly sole-sourced and contrary to the public tender procedures.”
Although the hospital has been out of insulin – the medication used by diabetic patients – it has shown no interest in acquiring the drug from New GPC, which has it in stock.

“This goes to show that the Hospital management is willing to risk the health and lives of patients just to justify its sole-sourcing from a specific company,” the company contended.

The pharmaceutical company says it feels targeted, even as it pointed to recent incidents in which GPHC claimed that it would have supplied spoilt drugs.
“NEW GPC supplied Soda Lime to another (private) Hospital which had no issues with the product, as was claimed by GHPC. New GPC has also tested the Paracetamol tablets and found no issues as was reported by the Hospital directly to the certain media houses with a known bias against New GPC. New GPC is now clearly being targeted.”

New GPC said amid the growing claims, it is still awaiting monies owed money for various goods and services supplied to Georgetown Hospital.

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