PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Authority has rebutted claims that it had stopped the health department from procuring medicines for government hospitals in the province.

In a rebuttal, the KPPRA said it had not stayed the purchase of medicines or other necessary equipment by the Medicines Coordination Council (MCC) of the health department.

It added that under the KPPRA Act 2012, the entity was legally mandated to regulate public procurement and hear or dispose of appeals against the orders of procurement under Section 5(a) read with Section 35 of the relevant law and was performing the quasi-judicial function.

The KPPRA clarified that presently, there existed no stay order enforced in any grievance redressal case of MCC, health department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding procurement of medicine or equipment.

The statement added that interlocutory injunction was enforced only for two days from October 4, 2021 to October 6, 2021 to the extent of only a few items quoted by the aggrieved bidder in his appeal which wasn’t extended beyond the date fixed for hearing hence quashed while decision in the subject case had also been passed on October 14. It said that the MCC had not been restrained from procuring all the required supplies, including medicines, according to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement of Goods, Works and Services, 2014.

“The KPRRA strongly rejects the news story that it has stayed purchase of medicines and other essential items for a period of 4-6 months,” it said, adding that being an institution, it not only ensured the best use of public exchequer through transparent procurement in the public sector but also facilitated assistant the government departments to utilise the resources effectively and efficiently through training and guidance.

“KPPRA has very efficient and fast grievance redressal mechanism under which it disposes complaints within few days. KPPRA examines cases in light of the concerned law. There was no reality in the impression that procurement of medicine has been stopped,” it said.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2021