Committee suspends inquiry

THE Public Accounts Committee inquiry into the Health Department’s procurement, supply and distribution system has been suspended because the department is busy dealing with the coronavirus threat, an official says.
The inquiry began in October after public concerns over the awarding of two Government contracts worth K100mil to Borneo Pacific Pharmaceutical in August.
The inquiry revealed nepotism, bribery and even the distribution of misoprostol medicine that had not passed laboratory tests and could have affected and killed pregnant women.
Committee chairman Sir John Pundari said the inquiry had to be postponed because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) global emergency.
“We will resume the inquiry once the Covid 19 issue has been addressed,” he said.
The committee this week started an inquiry into the sale of the old Parliament House in Port Moresby.