Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Complaint against health minister Dhakal filed at CIAA

Some activists today filed a complaint against minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal at the anti-corruption watch-dog.
‘Enough is Enough’ campaigners have registered a complaint against Dhakal and some other government officials at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) for their allegedly involvement in embezzling state funds while procuring medical equipment amid the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the complaint registered at the CIAA today afternoon, they have demanded an investigation into the alleged corruption in the medical equipment procurement.
They have also sought investigation against secretary at the Ministry of Health Laxman Aryal, director general at the Department of Health Dipendra Raman Singh, owner of the Omni Group Durga Prasad Belwase, Bhanu Bhakta Bhattarai and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Omni Group Tulhari Singh Bhusal.
In their complaint, the activists have categorically claimed that the alleged corruption took place in collusion with deputy prime minister Ishwar Pokharel, Prime Minister's chief political advisor Bishnu Rimal, former health secretary Yadav Koirala and former director general of the Department of Health Mahendra Shrestha. Incumbent secretary Aryal has been transferred to the Health Ministry after the infamous Omni-episode that has
Earlier, ‘Enough is Enough’ campaigners had sought information from the Health Ministry regarding the government's expenses in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic by using the Right to Information (RTI).
The government had bypassed minimum quotation and purchased medical equipment and kits at high rate from Omni Group raising many eyebrows and made the entire procurement process suspicious. Likewise, it was revealed that coronavirus test kits worth almost Rs 70 million that the government purchased from China did not meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
After pressure from public, the Public Procurement Monitoring Office has sought clarification from Omni Group as to why it should not be blacklisted, as recommended by the Department of Health Services, for the alleged irregularities in the procurement and supply of medical goods for the Covid-19 emergency.
One month ago, on June 23 the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has opened a formal investigation into alleged corruption over allegations that government officials procured essential medicines and health products at inflated prices, taking undue advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the mini parliament’s probe has not moved ahead since a month as the government of KP Sharma Oli has been protecting corrupt ministers including health minister Dhakal.

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