$31m medical drill imported by Health Ministry, MediTech reveals in lawsuit

 

Medical Technologies Limited (MediTech) has disclosed in its defamation lawsuit that the Ministry of Health and Wellness was the importer of the neurosurgical drill at the centre of a political firestorm over its $31 million cost. 

 

The disclosures come directly from documents filed in the Supreme Court by MediTech and the Kingston Central Member of Parliament and attorney-at-law Donovan Williams against Opposition Spokesperson on Health Dr. Alfred Dawes. 

 

The drill was purchased for the Bustamante Hospital for Children through a public procurement process conducted by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA). 

 

MediTech says in or about March, it successfully submitted a well-researched and detailed bid at significant administrative costs and expense in response to a request for tender to supply a neurosurgical drill along with attachments, as well as provide two-year preventative maintenance service for the sum of $31,467,708. 

 

Following the acceptance of its bid, MediTech says it thereafter issued a purchase order to the South East Regional Health Authority and procured and shipped the items to Jamaica in the name of the Ministry of Health in keeping with standard operating procedures in matters such as these. 

 

The company disclosed that over 100 attachments were included in the shipment. The drill package consisted of a motor, an electric console among other components. 

 

According to the court filings, the total cost covers $27 million for the equipment, including the EM-800 motor, priced at $3.9 million and the electric console, invoiced at $4.2 million. A two-year preventative maintenance package, valued at $4.2 million, brought the total to just over $31.4 million.

 

The invoice is dated November 19, 2024. 

 

A section of the procurement contract disclosed by MediTech shows that it was signed by SERHA Chairman Wentworth Charles and then regional director Errol Greene - who is now the Health Ministry's permanent secretary - on August 26, 2024. It was signed on behalf of MediTech on September 2, 2024 by director Trudy-Ann Ricketts. 

 

The court filings were submitted in response to allegations made by Dr. Dawes during a May 20 news conference where he alleged that the drill was not only refurbished but may have cost US$1,600 to import, with only J$90,000 in custom fees.

 

SERHA did not disclose the role of the ministry in facilitating the import in its statements defending the integrity of the procurement process.