Does Thailand’s deal for 8.5 million ATKs pass the corruption test?

[webfact]

(Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

Thailand’s surging COVID-19 crisis has spawned a series of rumors and scandals, with the latest centered on rapid antigen test kits (ATKs). Initially touted as a tool to control COVID-19, ATKs are now viewed by many as a breeding ground for corruption.

 

The Rural Doctors Society (RDS) has openly clashed with several authorities – notably the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – over their decision to back the procurement of 8.5 million ATK sets produced by China’s Lepu Medical Technology Co via local company Ostland Capital Plc.

 

Why is the deal being questioned?

RDS points out that the United States Food and Drug Administration recalled the Lepu kits over serious concerns about their accuracy. Meanwhile, Ostland Capital won bidding at a price of Bt70 per set, but a quick check on Alibaba.com shows a selling price of just Bt33.32. Research in Pakistan also shows the Lepu ATKs had produced a high percentage of false positives.

 

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Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/does-thailands-deal-for-8-5-million-atks-pass-the-corruption-test/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-17

 

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[Scrotobike]

Stop the obsession with testing, get some vaccines.

[mtls2005]

Does Thailand’s deal for 8.5 million ATKs pass the corruption test?

 

 

Not sure.

 

 

Let me get the "corruption detector".

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RotBenz8888]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

breeding ground for corruption.

The whole damn country is 

[pegman]

What's not corrupt with these guys?

[Tropicalevo]

"Does Thailand’s deal for 8.5 million ATKs pass the corruption test?"

Of course it does.

Q. Is it part of a government purchase.

A Yes. Tick - corruption evident -  test passed.

[ourmanflint]

So available on Alibaba for 33 baht but bid to supply is 70 baht. Shouldn't the bid to supply be much lower than the alibaba price, bulk buying etc

[Andycoops]

All deals on this scale with the chinese commies are corrupt as indeed are they along with the Siam side which is exactly why they take place with inferior products other countries won't touch.

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Ostland Capital won bidding at a price of Bt70 per set, but a quick check on Alibaba.com shows a selling price of just Bt33.32.

Just the usual mark-up.

[Cake Monster]

2 hours ago, ourmanflint said:

So available on Alibaba for 33 baht but bid to supply is 70 baht. Shouldn't the bid to supply be much lower than the alibaba price, bulk buying etc

If these kits are available on Alibaba for 33 Baht per Unit cost, then a winning bid on a Government Contract to supply should have been lower than this at about 27 Baht per Unit cost.

Does Thailand pass the corruption test on this purchase

You decide.

[GreasyFingers]

Has anyone bought the 7/11 ATK for about 270 baht. Wondering what brand.

[Golden Triangle]

No doubt someone somewhere is getting a kickback, I don't know why you feel the need to pose the question, the answer is about as obvious as nose on your face ????

Edited August 17, 2021 by Golden Triangle
To add clarity ????

[Purdey]

In the 70s the military fought Chinese backed insurgents and sacrificed many villagers in fiery red tanks to fight Chinese influence. Now the military is buying whatever it can get from China. Perhaps America has to be balanced against the Chinese but the cost to lives is still unnecessarily high.

[Caldera]

The deal might well test positive for corruption.

[Anant72]

On 8/17/2021 at 11:25 AM, RotBenz8888 said:

The whole damn country is 

Impossible! General happiness told us he engineered the coup to fight corruption: we have to give him time, him and the honest people surrounding him.

[mtls2005]

On 8/17/2021 at 11:23 AM, mtls2005 said:

Let me get the "corruption detector".

 

FWIW, these were shelved because they were going off ALL THE TIME.

 

 

 

[internationalism]

some thai ordered ATK Lepu for $1 (so 33.3b).

The government has payed 600mln for 8.5mln that is 70.5 per piece.

So the government deal was 37.3b more expensive (over 2x) than this private order

https://www.facebook.com/CSILA90210/posts/4256430881101271