There's fresh outrage in Papua New Guinea over the awarding of a public health contract to a controversial company
While the country focuses on the ongoing national election, Borneo Pharmaceuticals has been granted a US$15.4 million contract to supply medicines in public health facilities.
Borneo Pacific won a PNG contract in 2013 despite submitting a far more expensive tender than other applicants, including another major local pharmaceutical supplier and retailer.
Furthermore, due to Borneo's record of supplying substandard drugs, Australia cancelled its grant for national distribution of drugs in PNG.
Now Borneo has been awarded another public contract, over which the National Doctors Association of PNG has voiced serious concern.
The Association's general secretary Sam Yockapua suggests awarding of the contract by the National Executive Council had no legal effect as the NEC is not technically in existence during the election period.
He says the deal is in fact to the detriment of the health of PNG citizens.
