Thai PM urged to review suspension of deal to buy 8.5 million China-made ATKs

[webfact]

Photo: Facebook – Ostland Capital

 

Ostland Capital, the firm which won the bidding to supply the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) with 8.5 million rapid antigen test kits (ATKs), worth almost 600 million baht, has asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to reconsider his instruction to the GPO that the ATKs must be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

The prime minister’s written instruction, which came shortly before the signing of the contract between the GPO and Ostland Capital, has been interpreted by critics of the ATKs, produced by Lepu Medical Technology of China, as an order to suspend the deal.

 

In its letter, addressed to the prime minister yesterday (Thursday), Ostland Capital said that the terms of reference for the bid do not specify that the ATKs have to be endorsed by the WHO, adding that the Lepu ATKs have been approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration and have met the standards of several countries.

 

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Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-pm-urged-to-review-suspension-of-deal-to-buy-8-5-million-china-made-atks/

 

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[BobinBKK]

Another "Made in China" product? Pah-leezzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

[Bluespunk]

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

In its letter, addressed to the prime minister yesterday (Thursday), Ostland Capital said that the terms of reference for the bid do not specify that the ATKs have to be endorsed by the WHO

Yeah, well now it appears, thankfully, they do. 

[ikke1959]

THe winning... better than the lottery and as usual not approved... but the money is in the pocket

 

[Denim]

Sounds like a case of brown envelopes having already been issued but now the deal heading for the rocks and somebody out of pocket.

[worgeordie]

The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death.

Recalled Product
Lepu Medical Technology SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test Kit and Leccurate SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Rapid Test Kit (Colloidal Gold Immunochromatography)
All lot codes
Manufacturing Dates: Approximately March 20, 2020 to Present
Distribution Dates: Approximately March 20, 2020 to Present
Devices Recalled in the U.S.:
At least 8,419,545 antibody tests*
At least 205,175 antigen tests
Date Initiated by Firm: April 26, 2021

 

"to supply the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) with 8.5 million* rapid antigen test kits (ATKs), "  The same amount that was recalled from U.S.A. ..Coincidence ????????  regards Worgeordie

[tomacht8]

Is this Ostland Capital company really a producer or just a middleman?

Unfortunately I couldn't find a website about this company.

Only a simple Facebook page.

 

Has anyone found from this company a website?

 

https://www.dataforthai.com/company/0105557122647/บริษัท ออสท์แลนด์ แคปปิตอล จำกัด

 

Here the company is shown with 5 million share capital, my pizzeria next door also has that with 2 workpermits for foreigners.

 

The business purpose is stated: Business services relating to the management of the commercial sector : Event management for turnkey offices.

 

Strange

 

https://datawarehouse.dbd.go.th/fin/profitloss/5/0105557122647

 

In this database, this company had made in 2020 losses around 20-30 K Baht. These are just the fees for the tax advisor.

 

Sales: 2018: 4500 Baht

Sales: 2019: 2200 Baht.

 

That such a company gets a 100 million state contract with these company data? Crazy

 

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by tomacht8

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Ostland Capital, the firm which won the bidding to supply the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) with 8.5 million rapid antigen test kits (ATKs), worth almost 600 million baht, has asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to reconsider his instruction to the GPO that the ATKs must be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Of course they have! Just take the deal and pay so that we get our money. If they hold the standard needed is not important. I suggest that he hold on to his order instead.

[tomacht8]

Here Ostland Capital data cheat.

 

That such a small company, with almost no sales

2018: 4500 Baht

2019: 2200 Baht

2020: N / A and

a mini-capital liability kit (5 Mio.). and still listed with a completely different business purpose, at all in such a 595 million baht tender, was allowed - unchecked -to participate is a scandal. Irresponsible class 1

Edited August 20, 2021 by tomacht8

[Karma80]

1 hour ago, tomacht8 said:

Is this Ostland Capital company really a producer or just a middleman?

 

In this database, this company had made in 2020 losses around 20-30 K Baht. These are just the fees for the tax advisor.

 

Sales: 2018: 4500 Baht

Sales: 2019: 2200 Baht.

 

That such a company gets a 100 million state contract with these company data? Crazy

 

 

Brown paper packages, tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things....????

[Scrotobike]

Well if the general stops this CCP fraud, then this will be the best (first decent) thing he had done - ever.

[seajae]

same as other govt procurements, garbage product that does not do what it is supposed to but with a high profit margin for the supplier and a great backhander for the ones procuring it. We see this in Thailand a lot, its more important to be able to add to their bank accounts rather than getting a product that actually works, doesnt matter which govt is in they all do the same thing so if this doesnt go through it will be a real surprise, then again maybe the pm has realized the public are awake to all the graft we have seen and his days are numbered

[tomacht8]

Ostland Capital is only a small Ltd. Many foreigners use this company structure to get a 1 year business visa. Others buy land with such a company. The company is in fact not active at all with the last reported annual sales of 2000 Baht and 4000 Baht. The business purpose is also different: Event management.

 

And then the GPO gives this mini shell company an order for 70Baht x 8.5 million test kits = 595 million Baht unchecked? Without comparing market prices, without addressing the largest producers directly, without checking the suitability, history and expertise of providers?

Sorry that stinks to heaven.

 

This is absolutely irresponsible behavior how tax payers money is handled here.

Something like that is incomprehensible to me.

 

My pizzeria next door should have also bid and bought the kits then at Alibaba for 35 baht per kit. That would be then around 290 million Baht profit, and he could stop baking pizza.

 

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by tomacht8

[cyril sneer]

15 hours ago, Denim said:

Sounds like a case of brown envelopes having already been issued but now the deal heading for the rocks and somebody out of pocket.

I think they will just sit on the fence until someone high up within WHO approves the antigen kits $$$ (knowing they are useless)

 

It worked with Sinovac 

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, BobinBKK said:

Another "Made in China" product? Pah-leezzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

China the country that keeps giving.

[ClaySmc]

From around the web. The second link mentions a conflict of interest:

 

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

 

 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2165699/opposition-targets-5-ministers-pm-in-no-confidence-motion

 

 

[crazykopite]

What is it with the PM and China ! Submarines , Trains , vaccines and that’s just 3 things I’ve mentioned but the bill is billions of baht

[tomacht8]

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

What is it with the PM and China ! Submarines , Trains , vaccines and that’s just 3 things I’ve mentioned but the bill is billions of baht

All the purchases at the taxpayer's expense are as transparent as the Athamal glasses in the protective helmets of welders in daylight.