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The framework agreement by which the Ministry of Health establishes the economic criteria for the purchase of medical supplies and protective equipment excludes most of the Spanish companies that supplied the products to deal with the coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic. The purpose is to create a strategic reserve that allows the second wave to be faced with guarantees, should it occur.

"We return to the starting box. The technical criteria can only be met by multinationals that were not up to the task in February," complains one of the entrepreneurs discriminated against by the contest launched by the Ministry of Salvador Illa with a value of 2,000 million euros, who prefers to remain anonymous.

Published a few days ago by the National Institute of Health Management (Ingesa), it affects many entrepreneurs who, like him, replaced large companies that "did not comply with the agreements they had with hospitals, for example," importing or producing material sanitary at a critical moment.

The Government's objective is to select and classify reliable suppliers by establishing impartial criteria. In this case, "they are made to measure, so that only multinationals can attend." For example, the "technical solvency" required by Health means that companies must invoice "the total price of the lot to which they wish to apply."

"It is impossible to reach these levels for us," refers to the group of SMEs that expected to see their efforts rewarded. According to the document to which this newspaper has had access, the batch of 90,799,340 "non-sterile surgical gowns" has a total value of 272,398,020 euros. Or the one of 502,737,158 "surgical masks", of 377,052,868.50 euros.

"They leave all of us who reinvent our companies lying around to shoulder our shoulders. Now what do we do? Hasn't it been worth anything?" Asks this businessman. "Bringing planes with masks" saved his company in April. "We sold at fair prices. Now, the government has gone back to China to be fooled again," he says.

"We depend on third countries"

The ability of Spain to buy or produce material "is reduced. The National Institute of Health Management has not taken into account that we thus depend on third countries. Instead of supporting us, they exclude the factories and companies that were there when everyone passed Pedro Sánchez ".

The agreement is necessary to coordinate the acquisition of lots. "It is legislated in the Public Sector Contracts Law". It is an "emergency procedure provided for in Royal Decree Law 7/2020", by which urgent measures are adopted to respond to the economic impact of the coronavirus, and in "Article 120 of Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts" .

Despite the legal framework, this "mega contract" can undermine the management of the epidemic. In March there was a shortage, something that may happen again. "In this way," explains the businessman, "there is a risk of shortages. If they cut the tap for a new wave, multinational companies will not be able to fulfill the contract. The rest of us must have some tool to qualify for the tender of the batches ".

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • China
  • Spain
  • Pedro Sánchez
  • Coronavirus
  • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Salvador Illa

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