New questions over CT scan firm contract

HEALTH MINISTER John Rahael disclosed that new questions have arisen about the legality of a joint venture agreement between HTI Limited and the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) to place CT scans at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH). Meanwhile, HTI Managing Director Rodger Varley said his group will pull up stakes and leave Trinidad and Tobago when its contract with the NWRHA expires in August 2005. Speaking in the House of Representatives on November 5, Rahael said HTI was awarded a five-year contract without tender to place a CT scan at the PoSGH. The minister subsequently indicated that the NWRHA had no record that it ever received the 15 percent of revenues it was supposed to from HTI as part of a joint venture arrangement between the two and he requested further information on this matter.

He said under this arrangement, the NWRHA paid $500,000 to HTI for the purchase of CT scan machines, space for their use and a joint venture company was supposed to be formed between the two. Former NWRHA chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh denied there was any corruption in the award of that contract to HTI Rahael told Newsday yesterday that further investigations by the ministry indicate that this company was never formed. He said the ministry’s attorneys are now examining whether the contract is in fact valid and if any impropriety occurred. Rahael added that he was awaiting further information on this matter and the entire arrangement appeared to be very slipshod. For his part, Varley said he was very disappointed by all the events which have occurred since November 5 and he reiterated that HTI had done nothing wrong. 

He continued to say that the company will not remain in TT “one minute longer” once the contract expires next August. He claimed that all matters pertaining to the contract were discussed with Rahael and senior Health Ministry officials in June. Varley explained that the purpose of entering into this arrangement with the NWRHA was to establish a good working relationship with the Government and use it as a foundation for HTI’s primary activity which involved cancer treatment centres.  On June 18, Rahael signed an agreement to establish a US$21 million national oncology programme at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Varley maintained that the arrangement was effective in providing quality medical care for those most in need.  “We have given excellent service. We have done the best that we can for TT,” he said.