The fake N95 masks that were supplied as part of safety gear for healthcare professionals were at the research, and development stage and it is a “planned fraud and punishable offence,” according to the N95 scam probe committee report.
Describing the role of the Central Medical Store Depot (CMSD) as “irresponsible”, the committee also recommended its officials held accountable under departmental action for receiving the masks, despite knowing that they were not the products that were supposed to be supplied and for not reporting the matter.
Initially, a three-member probe committee led by M Saidur Rahman, additional secretary (development) at the Health Services Division, was formed to investigate the controversy over the N95 mask scam after the matter came to light. Fake products were supplied to several government hospitals.
The Central Medical Store Depot (CMSD) distributed the fake N95 masks to hospitals in early April, after receiving them in late March from local company JMI Hospitals Requisite Manufacturing Limited.
Later, two other members were included in the committee as investigation and technical experts. The five-member committee formed on April 2, following an order from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, submitted its report on April 29.
The report was attached to a letter and was sent to the CMSD from the Hospital Wing of the Health Services Division on Tuesday.
Confirming the matter, the head of the wing, Additional Secretary Muhibur Rahman, told Dhaka Tribune that the letter was sent to the CMSD as a reminder to not approve any order for JMI products, urging them not to engage in any controversial action going forward, and to take necessary precautionary measures.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is probing the matter as well, and those involved in the scam shall be booked,” he added.
The then director of CMSD, Brig Gen Md Shahidullah, was transferred and Abu Hena Morshed Zaman was appointed the new chief of CMSD on May 23. The new director could not be reached over phone for comment.
Before the report was submitted, high officials of the Health Ministry were criticized by various quarters in society, as it seemed like they were trying to prove that the issue was a "mistake" without having to probe the matter.
However, the report said otherwise.
According to the report, JMI supplied some 20,600 N95 masks in two separate supplies that were said to be at the research and development stage.
The report mentioned that there is no scope to identify the fake N95 mask supply as a mistake after following the whole process of collecting raw material for the masks and shifting the masks to the delivery unit.
Although the products were at the research and development stage, they were supplied as N95 masks to government hospitals.
CMSD officials should face departmental action for irresponsible act
The probe committee feared that inaction could bring about a disaster in the health services sector. Hence they termed it a “planned fraud and punishable offence.”
The committee also recommended CMSD officials be held accountable under departmental action for receiving the masks, despite knowing that the masks were not the product sought, and they did not inform their superiors about it either.
The probe committee termed the action of the CMSD officials “irresponsible.”
In the report the probe committee said the protection of healthcare professionals during their service hours had to be ensured. They recommended more manpower at CMSD to ensure efficient sourcing, handling and distribution of healthcare gear.
They also suggested deploying efficient officials here in this regard.
This correspondent approached several members of the probe committee for comments but they refused to say anything further in this regard. They said the health ministry spokesperson should speak about it now.
After the probe report was submitted, most of the high level officials, from assistant director to director, were withdrawn from their posts at CMSD.