The State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) has admitted that it errored regarding the award of a tender for Chlorhexidine 0.2% mouthwash to a Bangladeshi company, which had been previously blacklisted for non-fulfillment of past contracts.
The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) raised concerns, claiming that the supplier in question had been blacklisted due to defaulting on previous agreements.
In response, SPC Chairman Dr. M.C. Weerasinghe explained that the tender was initially awarded according to the standard procurement process, with the bid granted to the lowest bidder that met the necessary criteria, including valid certification from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
However, Dr. Weerasinghe admitted that further review revealed the supplier had been classified as a ‘default supplier’ by the SPC Board of Directors in October 2024. Upon this discovery, the SPC swiftly reversed the decision and began the process of awarding the contract to a different eligible bidder.
“This was an oversight by the Tender Committee, but once it was identified, corrective action was taken immediately,” Dr. Weerasinghe said.
The MCPA had previously called for an urgent investigation into the matter, expressing concern that a blacklisted company had been selected to supply a crucial medical product. They urged the Ministry of Health to ensure transparency in future tender processes to prevent such incidents.
