ICAC is busy with this Molnupiravir purchase issue, and it can be said that there are new revelations every day and every revelation makes a head fall off, leading to their suspension, transfer or else, early retirement. And the icing on the cake is the revelations made by Eshan Juman, the MP of PTr, on the original quotation of Optimus Pharma Pvt Ltd based in Telangana, India with a unit cost USD 0.40 and not USD 1.65.
Eshan Juman’s revelations
As of 12 December, Jay Kumar Chuttoo claimed to have purchased Molcovir, a generic of Molnupiravir produced under Merck’s licence, at Rs 72 for a resale price of Rs 79.92 from the health ministry. By 14 December, he announced that his company was making a small profit with a focus on saving lives, and had disclosed a marginal profit of 11% as required by the Commerce Ministry. But Eshan Juman belies everything with emails, supporting documents and Manish Kumar’s reply from the Business Development Department which reads as follows: “We can provide you with Molnupiravir 200 mg capsules at USD 0.4 per capsule…”. So at Rs 17.50 per pill on purchase and with the 11% margin announced by Jay Kumar Chttoo, it should have been sold to the health department at Rs 19.43. The communication cell of CPN Distributors had then claimed that the drug at this price of USD 1.65 would be for the order placed in mid-November and the stock in its possession was basically for the private market, namely CPN Distributors imported Molnupiravir in two shipments, 200,000 on 30 November and 800,000 on 03 December respectively. On 07 December, the company was awarded a contract for 999,000 capsules on behalf of the Ministry of Health. This case under investigation by the anti-corruption squad remains unresolved at this time.
Minister Jagutpal, not to be bothered!
Despite all the fingers pointing at him and all the voices calling for his resignation, Health Minister Dr Kailesh Jagutpal is not about to be bothered in this case. Although he has promoted this drug and praised its rapid procurement and distribution to patients, he is reportedly not on the committee at the Ministry of Health that deals with approvals and payments, including the contract for this emergency procurement.
Suspension of transfers and early retirement
Two senior officials, Parmanand Mawah, Permanent Secretary, and Brijendrasing Naeck, Principal Pharmacist, have been suspended from their posts on charges that are still unclear but are linked to the USD 0.40 price proven by Optimus Pharma and considered by ICAC. Still without any explanation, following a transfer order with the heading “Most Immediate” issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, Zahira Bibi Auladin-Auckbarally, Permanent Secretary and Dhanraj Conhye, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health have been transferred to the Ministry of Education. Sooraya Meeajan, Assistant Permanent Secretary has been transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, Virendra Kumarsing Daby, Senior Chief Executive in the Ministry of SMEs and Cooperatives has been transferred to the Ministry of Regional Administration. The Senior Chief Executive (SCE) of the Ministry of Health, Dalida Allagapen, also reputed to be the sister of Minister Alan Ganoo, has requested early retirement. Will she therefore be called for questioning by the ICAC? The question will be answered as the case progresses.
