An online complaint against Health Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal has been lodged with the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
Provincial assembly member of Bibeksheel Nepali in Bagmati Ramesh Paudel has moved the constitutional anti-graft body against Minister Dhakal.
"Many questions have been raised about health materials brought from China. The previously started tender process was apparently revoked. Many things have been hidden. Why would one hide if there is no mistake?" lawmaker Paudel asked. "There have been revelations that the rate is more than four times higher than the market rate and allegations that inexperienced businessmen close to the government have been contracted. I have demanded investigation as the rapid testing kits are also substandard."
Questions have been raised after the government procured rapid testing kits for COVID-19 not approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and widely criticized as unreliable in different countries.
The government procured 75,000 such kits, that can give result in 10-15 minutes, from China paying Rs 70 million. But their result is not reliable. The government has now said that the kits will not be used.
