Former minister of health, labor and social protection Ala Nemerenco said the tender contest to purchase ambulances was suspended. According to her, a number of ambulances of a higher quality could have been bought with the sum of €10 million asked by the winner of the contest.
Contacted by IPN for a comment, Ala Nemerenco said that she cannot say with certitude that the announcement about the delivery of ambulances that was made by President Igor Dodon refers to the procurement process of last summer, but presumes that it is the same contract as she does not believe that such a large amount could be found elsewhere so swiftly.
Ala Nemerenco said that she does not know how things developed after she left, but the National Anticorruption Center was requested to assess the procurement process and the tender contest that involved only one company that was declared winner.
The former minister noted that when she took up her duties, a sum of over €1 million was transferred to the contest winner. A commission of the Ministry went to the bidder to see how the ambulances were being assembled. “The conclusion was that many of the features didn’t meet the standards and the conditions in which the ambulances were assembled were also inappropriate. The company promised to change the pieces of equipment imported from countries that didn’t have very high production standards,” stated Ala Nemerenco.
“The tender contest was very suspicious. I could not assume this responsibility. I tried to clarify the situation, but this is how things stand. I think they will buy the ambulances the way they were assembled. The business was probably taken over or remained to be controlled by those who managed it.”
Earlier this week, President Igor Dodon said that 168 new ambulances will be delivered to Moldova during the next few months and these will be distributed to health facilities in districts. The ambulances were bought with a loan released by the EBRD.
