The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has started investigation on procurement of medical supplies by the government to fight COVID-19 pandemic.
It has written to the Health Ministry to submit relevant documents within seven days. Secretary of the committee confirmed that all the documents related to the procurement process have been sought.
The committee says investigation has been initiated as the contract for procurement of health equipment and necessary materials was given to Omni Business Corporate International through the Department of Health Service without free competition.
It has also expressed interest in revocation of the agreement with Omni.
The government on April 1 had unilaterally revoked the contract with Omni Group, that had brought the first lot of medical materials from China three days earlier, citing the latter's inability to bring additional materials. maThe revocation came following widespread allegations of irregularities in the procurement process.
Omni Group, with no previous experience in medical supplies, was given the contract without any bidding process in a process that lacked transparency.
It has since decided to hand over the responsibility of bringing the materials to the Nepal Army through government to government arrangements.
