Investigation on surgical gloves to be completed

Nadira Gunatilleke

The investigation into the purchase of surgical gloves initiated by the Finance Ministry a month ago is to be completed soon, a Health ministry spokesman said.

“The Health ministry received information of the corruption before it was announced by the trade unions and commenced investigations,” the ministry spokesman said.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena informed the Finance Ministry to launch an investigation into this incident about a month ago and it is to be completed shortly, the spokesman said.

“The companies which obtained tenders to provide surgical gloves for the Health Ministry did not supply them as promised”, he said. “The companies delayed their supplies and failed to meet the demand.

Therefore, the ministry authorized hospital directors to purchase surgical gloves locally.

‘Surgical gloves had been purchased locally at high prices exceeding the normal price,’ he added.