Borneo Pacific contract ends

By REBECCA KUKU
BORNEO Pacific Pharmaceutical’s contract to supply medicines will not be extended, says Central Supply and Tenders Board chairman Dr Ken Ngangan.
“The certificate of inexpediency (COI) to extend the Borneo  contract was taken by the Central Supply and Tenders Board (CSTB) last month as an emergency step to address the shortage of medicines in the country but was not approved by the State Solicitor’s (Office),” he said.
The COI was issued after the country faced a shortage of medicines when the country’s supplier, Borneo Pharmaceuticals’ contract expired last November and the Health Department failed to get a new contractor to supply medicines.
Ngangan said that the COI was to extend the Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals contract for a year in which time a tender could be placed for pharmaceutical suppliers to bid to supply medicines to the Department of Health.
However, Ngangan said that State Solicitors Office advised against the COI, to extend Borneo Pharmaceuticals contract and  directed Central Supply and Tenders Board and the Department of Health to place a new tender for the supply of pharmaceutical drugs in the country.
“I have already signed the papers and the new tender should be out today.”
“But we’ll make sure that a new contract is signed before the election period begins,” he said.
Ngangan said that it may take two months for the contract to be signed.
Ngangan has also advised the Health Secretary to procure medicines with the department’s available funds while waiting for a new contractor.