HSE imported 465 ventilators from China is in ‘lifetime ventilator’; Experts say machines are ineffective
DUBLIN: The HSE imported 465 ventilators into Ireland from China that were never used. Additional ventilators were purchased for Ireland at the beginning of the Pandemic. But experts say these machines are not effective in treating the current disease. The only information that has come out is that these are in quarantine in an unknown centre.
The ventilators were brought here on December 14 last year. The deal was at a cost of €9.4m, or €20,235 per unit. A total of 1,026 ventilators were purchased for Ireland last year at a cost of €30.6 million.
HSE Health Business Services (HBS) Procurement Officer John Griffin said that “the units from China are in quarantine due to quality-related issues”. But Mr. Griffin did not reveal where the machines have been kept in quarantine.
Many questions remain unanswered, such as where these Chinese machines are currently stored, what suppliers have been used, what make or brand the devices are, and whether HSE is negotiating to recoup the costs incurred of the purchase of useless brands.
A spokesperson replied: “The HSE is not in a position to provide any further comment at this stage.”
The remaining 561 units were purchased from “traditional sources”, at a cost of €21,171,984, or €37,740 per machine. Some 359 devices were purchased from Cork supplier Healthcare 21. Before taxing, the price was €24,500 per unit.
It was reported that none of these had been used so far as they did not even have the minimum quality.On March 23 last year, health service paid €14.1m to a media management company, Roqu Media International, to supply 328 ventilators. But only 72 units were delivered.
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