Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade purchased overpriced coronavirus tests
New information has come to light regarding state procurements made during the coronavirus pandemic. According to documents published in the press, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade purchased rapid tests for a significant sum from a Hungarian company, Speciál 99 Kft.
Based on the internal records that have been made public, the company acquired the tests for a total of 186,000 dollars. Subsequently, the company resold the stock to the ministry for 570,000 dollars. This means that the state acquired the devices at roughly triple the market price, significantly higher than what they were worth.
The circumstances of the procurement raise serious questions regarding the use of public funds. During the pandemic, the government on several occasions used an extraordinary legal order and expedited procedures to purchase medical equipment to ensure the necessary tools for protection were available.
The details of the case are currently under investigation. The attention of the authorities and the public is now focused on exactly what decision-making processes led to the conclusion of the overpriced contract and who was responsible for carrying out the transaction.
The case highlights the challenges associated with responding quickly during the global pandemic. Further details are expected to emerge in the future regarding the efficiency with which state resources were used during crisis management.