Monrovia- The Management of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Medical Center (JFKMC) says it attention has been drawn to speculations by some media entities about a purported audit report which alleges illegal hike in quoted bid price for drugs at the Medical Center.

According to a release, JFk says these speculations are not only false and misleading but are geared toward demeaning the hard-earned reputation of the Medical Center.

“The Management wishes to clarify that at no time did the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) conduct an audit of the Medical Center, since the inception of this administration, as being speculated,” JFK press release stated.

JFK further stated that, on the 12th of June, 2019, a representative from the Internal Audit Agency’s (IAA) team assigned to the Medical Center made an enquiry to the Medical Center stating an increase in quoted prices for six specified medications supplied by vendor, T-Choithram & Sons, as part of our internal control system.

Following this enquiry, a response was prepared on the 27th of June, 2019 informing the IAA team, through its new team leader, of a price adjustment appeal from the vendor dated November 1, 2018 –which stated several reasons including fluctuation in commodity prices on the international market and the packaging of needed items. Being cognizant of said global inflation and considering the importance of maintaining the supply of quality and standard drugs to the Medical Center, the JFKMC’s Procurement Committee reviewed and subsequently approved the price adjustment appeal from the vendor on November 8, 2018.

Meanwhile the management of JFK says it’s important to note that said adjustments were made both upward & downward affecting 34 drug items. At the conclusion of the exercise, the total upward adjustment amounted to US$152.88 while downward adjustment amounted to US$217.35: e.g. Capillary Tubes (10X100), which was initially purchased for US$80.00, was adjusted to US$28.50 while Insulin Regular 40iu/ml/10ml/vial was adjusted from US$8.00 to US$19.00. However, the speculations in the Media only spoke to the increase in prices and not to the decrease in prices of essential drugs from the same vendor.

“We recognize and appreciate the importance of responsible journalism in our governance process. However, the Management of the JFK Medical Center admonishes those media institutions engaged in false and defamatory reporting of information without substantiating the facts, to cease and desist.

Our quest to make the JFK Medical Center “The Hospital of Choice” remains an unbending and patriotic priority. Furthermore, we wish to assure the Liberian people of our unabated and unwavering commitment to provide quality healthcare services through transparency, accountability and integrity,” the release concluded.