PHARMANIAGA has agreed to pay back the government about RM16.7 mil for the 104 defective ventilators that was received from China at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Pharmaniaga’s subsidiary, Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd (PLSB), has agreed to the arrangement in principle when it had met with government representatives on Feb 29, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report.
Malaysiakini reported that following this report, PAC chairperson Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the committee is now satisfied with the Health Ministry’s response to its recommendations on the matter.
“PAC is satisfied with the Health Ministry’s action where it managed to secure repayment of RM16,785,910.95 for 104 units of ventilator machines that were faulty,” Mas Ermieyati said in a statement.
“This action by the ministry was in line with one of the recommendations PAC made before, where the ministry was asked to check the warranty status for all 136 ventilators (it received in 2020) and ensure that appropriate actions are taken against those responsible.
“Hence, PAC now recommends that the money should be topped up by the Finance Ministry and used to ensure readiness of ventilator machines at all government hospitals.”
It was previously reported that PAC had found that 104 of the 136 ventilators supplied by PLSB to the Health Ministry during the pandemic were defective but no party was able to take responsibility as there was a lack of a written agreement between PLSB and the Health Ministry.
For the record, the 136 ventilators had cost the Malaysian government RM20.1 mil. – March 25, 2024
Main pic credit: Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
