Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 12, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 12, 2020 Quote Storm over medicine delivery contract to suspect group CSS director knocks elbows with ultimate recipient of contract during delivery of donation Posted 11/04/2020 A growing outcry over a $168 million Social Security (CSS) contract awarded to a Mexican-Panama consortium for the storage and delivery of medicines has put Director Enrique Lau Cortes in the center of a political and media storm "For many years, I have not answered gossip," says the Director. Panama America controlled by ex-president Ricardo Martinelli has defended the award of the contract to a consortium made up of two companies: the Panamanian PMG Logistics Corp. with no history in the field and Mexico Intermed with a spotty performance record and corruption allegations on its home turf The Martinelli publication says the four-year contract, "would help improve the availability of medicines in favor of thousands of Panamanians.” The newspaper said that the benefited consortium “was the only proponent that, … complied with the requirements and requirements of the statement of objections, obtaining a total of 97 points of the chosen weighting methodology ”. The arguments of the Martinelli newspaper came to light amid an avalanche of criticism emanating from social networks and newsgroups, which strongly questioned the contract, due to the scandals surrounding one of the companies in the consortium. winner: Intercontinental de Medicamentos SA de CV (Intermed). Irregularities In February - the director of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico was dismissed for "incompetence ... since the health and lives of patients were put at risk daily," Mexican media reported. The decision came when medical personnel denounced the official to the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, because Intermed and another company breached a contract of more than $27 million for the delivery of medical and pharmaceutical supplies, but they were charged to patients, reported the Aristegui Noticias. This year another complaint against the company was added. The head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Mexican Ministry of Finance, Santiago Nieto Castillo presented information about this and other companies in the health system that has been identified as having irregularities. Castillo revealed that, in total, Intermed has benefited from contracts totaling more than $ 290 million - between 2012 and 2019 - by different Mexican state agencies. And despite this, its financial reports reflect tax losses of about $18 million. Other complaints against Intercontinental Medicines include the delivery, along with two other companies, insulins that "do not meet" the necessary standards for medical treatments. The insulin used by public hospitals in Guanajuato was classified as " pirate " by local parliamentary deputies since doctors from that region concluded that "it did not meet the quality characteristics of quality and the patients were not giving the results that were expected with the application of this medicine ”. But despite warnings, the company acquired another direct contract for more than $3.4 million in Mexico. Despite the defense of the contract, criticism was mounting as the scandals in Mexico of the winning company were disclosed. Panama America, while defending the contract in favor of the winning consortium, deliberately refrained from disclosing compromising information from Intercontinental de Medicamentos, SA de CV, reports La Prensa The attack by Panama America focused on Distribuidora Disur, which, was disqualified from the tender for the CSS. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/storm-over-medicine-delivery-contract-to-suspect-group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 12, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted April 12, 2020 Quote Cortizo instruyó suspender el polémico contrato de la CSS Redacción de La Prensa 12 abr 2020 - 12:00 AM Enrique Lau Cortés, director de la CSS. Archivo El presidente Laurentino Cortizo instruyó a la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) suspender el contrato de servicios de almacenamiento y distribución de medicamentos, por $168 millones, que fue adjudicado el pasado 7 de abril al Consorcio Salud en Control. Cortizo pidió suspender la contratación, hasta que se supere la crisis del Covid-19. Lau, que adjudicó el contrato el pasado martes, ahora dice que el acto se planificó sin el coronavirus, y ahora la vida “ha cambiado”. El consorcio está integrado por la panameña PMG Logistics Corp, y la mexicana Intercontinental de Medicamentos, S.A. de C.V. A esta última se le atribuyen en México fallas e incumplimientos en la entrega de fármacos, y de no cumplir con los requisitos de calidad e, incluso, una presunta defraudación de naturaleza fiscal. Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article. Quote Cortizo instructed to suspend the controversial CSS contract Press Writing Apr 12, 2020 - 12:00 AM <<Y7JXW6I5ZRCM5BTYS7Q3JRRL3M.jpg>> Enrique Lau Cortés, director of the CSS. Archive President Laurentino Cortizo instructed the Social Security Fund (CSS) to suspend the contract for storage and distribution of medicines, for $ 168 million, which was awarded on April 7 to the Health in Control Consortium. Cortizo asked to suspend hiring, until the Covid-19 crisis is overcome. Lau, who awarded the contract last Tuesday, now says the event was planned without the coronavirus, and now life "has changed." The consortium is made up of the Panamanian PMG Logistics Corp, and the Mexican Intercontinental de Medicamentos, S.A. de C.V. The latter is attributed in Mexico to faults and non-compliance in the delivery of drugs, and to not complying with the quality requirements and, even, an alleged fraud of a fiscal nature. https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/cortizo-intruyo-suspender-el-polemico-contrato-de-la-css/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hil Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Of course Panama takes no repsonsiblity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 13, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted April 13, 2020 Quote Clouded Social Security deal sidelined Enrique Lau Cortes Posted 12/04/2020 President Laurentino Cortizo reacted quickly to media exposure of the clouded track record of a Panama-Mexico consortium, cobbled together to snag a $168 million contract from the Social Security Fund for storage and distribution of medicines with a clouded track. On Saturday, April 11 Cortizo ordered the Fund’s director Enrique Lau Cortes to suspend the contract he had awarded on Tuesday Lau, behind a face mask, told media at a Health Ministry press conference that the deal with a consortium that bid $40 million higher than a rival group was planned beforethe coronavirus, and now life "has changed." The consortium is made up of the Panamanian PMG Logistics Corp, and the Mexican Intercontinental de Medicamentos, SA de CV. , part of alleged tax fraud. La Prensa’s investigative team which has frequently exposed previous administration failings led the charge while Ricardo Martinelli controlled Panama America skipping details of earlier malpractice came to its defense. Ex- president Martinelli has a dozen corruption cases related to his time in office waiting in the wings. https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/clouded-social-security-deal-sidelined Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 On 4/12/2020 at 8:19 AM, Moderator_02 said: Despite the defense of the contract, criticism was mounting as the scandals in Mexico of the winning company were disclosed. Panama America, while defending the contract in favor of the winning consortium, deliberately refrained from disclosing compromising information from Intercontinental de Medicamentos, SA de CV, reports La Prensa The attack by Panama America focused on Distribuidora Disur, which, was disqualified from the tender for the CSS. Ricardo Martinelli. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 15, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted April 15, 2020 Quote Drug Distribution: Contract Award Suspended The President of Panama ordered the Social Security Fund to suspend the award of the contract for the service of storage, distribution and final dispensation of medicines at the national level, for a four-year period. Monday, April 13, 2020 According to official information published on April 7, the winner of the contract amounting to $168 million was the business consortium formed by the companies Intercontinental de Medicamentos, S.A. de CV and PMG Logistic Corp. However, days later President Laurentino Cortizo decided to suspend the public ceremony. In his Twitter account, on April 11th the president explained that "... After analyzing the reports received, I instructed the Social Security Fund to suspend the planned hiring until the Covid-19 crisis is overcome, during which time possible actions to meet the demands of Panamanians must be supported." According to the documentation, for this public tender Disur & Motion Health Care and Consorcio Salud en Control were the companies that presented their offers, which amounted to $129.5 million and $168 million, respectively. According to the tender documents, the services contracted are aimed at training human resources of the Social Security Fund for the proper planning of procurement and logistics of distribution and dispensing of medicines and medical surgical supplies in all its units, for this purpose it is required that the contract is for a period of at least four years to implement and provide the service. See details of the award. https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Drug_Distribution_Contract_Award_Suspended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 18, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted April 18, 2020 Quote Procuradurías investigan a la CSS por el contrato de $168 millones Enrique Lau Cortés guarda silencio ante interrogantes sobre el viaje de miembros de la junta directiva de la CSS a México, en noviembre pasado. Ereida Prieto-Barreiro 17 abr 2020 - 11:42 PM El pasado 7 de abril, la CSS adjudicó el contrato para almacenar, distribuir y entregar medicamentos, al consorcio Salud en Control, integrado por la panameña PMG Logistic Corp y la mexicana Intercontinental de Medicamentos. Archivo Las procuradurías de la Nación y de la Administración investigan la actuación de la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS), en la adjudicación de un contrato para almacenar, distribuir y entregar medicinas, por $168 millones. El procurador de la Administración, Rigoberto González, inició la investigación de oficio sobre el viaje a México de tres miembros de la junta directiva de la CSS, entre ellos, el presidente de la directiva, Miguel Edwards, en noviembre pasado. Edwards, junto a otros dos directivos de la CSS -Esmeralda Buchanan y José Alba- viajaron a México para conocer el sistema de almacenamiento y distribución de medicamentos en ese país. El pasado 7 de abril, se adjudicó el contrato, de $168 millones, al Consorcio Salud en Control, integrado por la panameña PMG Logistic Corp y la mexicana Intercontinental de Medicamentos, esta última cuestionada por irregularidades. González informó que, “como primera medida”, solicitará a Edwards un “informe sustentando y explicativo de dicho viaje” a México. A su vez, la Fiscalía Anticorrupción anunció ayer que investiga la contratación del consorcio, “presuntamente de manera irregular”. Por lo pronto, el director de la CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, guarda silencio. Director de la CSS habría designado a los directivos que viajaron a México Gregorio Guerrel es el representante de la Confederación Nacional de Unidad Sindical Independiente (Conusi) y del Sindicato Único Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Construcción y Similares (Suntracs) ante la junta directiva de la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS). No es una voz muy conocida fuera de esas organizaciones, pero esta vez se hizo escuchar ante un tema que ha venido denunciado por diversos medios: los gastos de la entidad social. En específico, a Guerrel le preocupa la recientemente suspendida licitación de la CSS para actualizar, implementar e integrar los procesos de almacenamiento, distribución y dispensación de medicamentos. No todos los directivos de la CSS quieren abordar ese tema con este medio,y Guerrel es de los pocos que lo ha hecho. Y una de las cosas que dijo es que miembros de la directiva quedaron sorprendidos al conocer que tres de sus integrantes irían a México a conocer un sistema de almacenaje, disposición y entrega de medicamentos en entidades públicas de salud de ese país. Guerrel aún recuerda con claridad las reuniones de la directiva de octubre y noviembre pasado en las que se tocó el tema. “Eso [el viaje a México y la convocatoria a la licitación] tuvo su origen cuando el director de la CSS [Enrique Lau Cortés] designó a un equipo de directivos [con el fin de viajar] a México, para que vieran cómo funcionaban los robots, y eso del almacenamiento y dispensación de los medicamentos”. En efecto, Lau Cortés les presentó el millonario proyecto, recuerda Guerrel, luego de que el presidente de la junta directiva de la CSS, Miguel Ángel Edwards, junto a la representante de los gremios de Profesionales y Técnicos de la Salud, Esmeralda Buchanan, y el delegado suplente de los servidores públicos, José Alba, regresaron de México, donde visitaron los estados de Guanajuato y Jalisco, lugares donde una de las empresas ganadoras de la licitación tiene en operación su sistema automatizado para dispensar medicinas, y donde ésta tiene su sede, respectivamente. Los viajeros -a su retorno- presentaron un informe a la directiva, en el que elogiaban el “novedoso” sistema para dispensar medicamentos que conocieron en México. “Si se hace realidad, [el proyecto] será beneficioso para la clase asegurada, que tendría su medicamento en [un] tiempo más rápido”, recordó Guerrel. El viaje a México también fue confirmado por otro miembro de la directiva de la CSS, que prefirió no ser identificado, alegando temor a represalias. Dijo que cuando se planteó el viaje, ya venía con indicaciones de la Dirección General de la entidad, por lo que fue mero “protocolo” la votación para aprobar el periplo cuando se sometió a la consideración de los directivos. En diciembre pasado, el costo de la licitación de la CSS pasó de 50 millones a 200 millones de dólares, por solicitud de Lau Cortés a la junta directiva. “Nosotros nos opusimos porque no tenemos las mismas condiciones de México ni el personal”, resaltó Guerrel, por lo que dijo haber votado en contra del aumento del costo de la licitación. No obstante, la mayoría de sus colegas en la directiva aprobó la solicitud de Lau Cortés. Guerrel sostiene que la licitación no resolvería los problemas en la compra de medicamentos bajo los mecanismos existentes en la Ley 1 de 2001. Tampoco el enfrentamiento de lo que él calificó como “la mafia detrás de los medicamentos”. Encima de todo, dijo que la comisión evaluadora de la licitación “no revisó” en detalle la documentación presentada por la empresa investigada en México, refiriéndose a Intercontinental de Medicamentos, S.A. de C.V. Del viaje no existe constancia en las notas de prensa de la CSS. No obstante, José Alba -uno de los viajeros- afirmó que todos los gastos de la visita fueron sufragados “por el Gobierno de México”. Sin embargo, no pudo precisar qué entidad pública de ese país los invitó. Alba dijo que fue un viaje corto -del 2 al 4 de noviembre de 2014-, que “el día 5 en la mañana todos estábamos en nuestros puestos de trabajo”, lo que se presta a dudas si se considera que el 5 de noviembre fue día libre nacional. ¿A quién estaba dirigida la invitación para viajar a México? ¿Qué autoridad mexicana corrió con los gastos y cuáles serían sus motivaciones? Estas son algunas preguntas que no fueron respondidas por Lau Cortés al cierre de esta nota. Ayer, las procuradurías de la Nación y de la Administración anunciaron investigaciones al proceso de adjudicación de la CSS. El procurador de la Administración, Rigoberto González, inició de oficio una investigación para precisar cómo y por qué los tres directivos viajaron a México. En tanto, la Fiscalía Anticorrupción abrió una investigación por la contratación del consorcio, “presuntamente de manera irregular”. Denuncia La presidenta de la Asociación de Farmacéuticos, Lilia Álvarez, denunció que para adjudicar el millonario contrato, la CSS habría violado la Ley de 22 de 2006 sobre contrataciones públicas, porque dijo que en la comisión evaluadora designada por la CSS para calificar las ofertas de los proponentes “no había nadie idóneo”. Tras un análisis de la documentación, señaló que detectaron la violación del artículo 118 de la Ley de Contrataciones Públicas, que establece la participación de un profesional idóneo dentro de la comisión evaluadora. Esta comisión -designada por Lau Cortés- estuvo integrada por un economista, un abogado, un ingeniero civil, un ingeniero en informática y el subdirector nacional de logística de la CSS, Demetrio Diamantópulos. Álvarez coincidió con Guerrel en que el millonario contrato con el consorcio Salud en Control “no solucionará” el desabastecimiento de medicamentos que sufre la CSS. En su lugar, pidió mejorar el sistema de compra, porque “ni siquiera un robot va a dispensar medicamentos que no están en nuestras bodegas”, subrayó. La última reforma a la Ley de Contrataciones Públicas, de julio de 2019 y sancionada por el presidente Laurentino Cortizo, indica en su artículo 64 que la comisión evaluadora o verificadora deberá estar constituida “por profesionales idóneos en el objeto de la contratación”. También advierte que éstos “preferiblemente, serán servidores públicos”, aunque no de la entidad contratante. Proceso Guerrel reveló que la CSS ha gastado más de 170 millones de dólares en sistemas similares durante 11 años, pero “no han solucionado el problema”. En el 2011, la CSS contrató, por 14.5 millones de dólares, el software conocido como “Zafiro”, desarrollado por SAP y vendido por la empresa Advanced Consulting Panama, S.A. En 2015, el vicepresidente de cuentas globales en Latinoamérica de SAP, Vicente García, se declaró culpable ante un juez de Estados Unidos por participar “en un esquema para sobornar” a funcionarios panameños para obtener contratos. Entre las evidencias encontradas por las autoridades estaba un viaje a México, pagado al entonces administrador de la Autoridad Nacional para la Innovación Gubernamental, Eduardo Jaén, quien en 2016, confesó haber recibido sobornos de SAP. A pesar de ello, en 2017, la CSS volvió a contratar a SAP International, por 3.9 millones de dólares, para “reactivar los servicios de soporte y mantenimiento”. En su momento, la empresa se desvinculó de su filial panameña acusada de corrupción. Moderator comment: Below is an unedited atuomated translation of the above news article. Quote Prosecutors investigate CSS for $ 168 million contract Enrique Lau Cortés is silent in the face of questions about the trip by members of the CSS board of directors to Mexico last November. Ereida Prieto-Barreiro Apr 17, 2020 - 11:42 PM <<FTRIH6KI7JBJTMQ342WDHKHRAE.jpg>> On April 7, the CSS awarded the contract to store, distribute and deliver medicines to the Salud en Control consortium, made up of the Panamanian PMG Logistic Corp and the Mexican Intercontinental de Medicamentos. Archive The Attorney General's Office and the Administration are investigating the actions of the Social Security Fund (CSS), in the award of a contract to store, distribute and deliver medicines, for $ 168 million. The Administration's attorney, Rigoberto González, initiated the ex officio investigation into the trip to Mexico of three members of the CSS's board of directors, including the president of the board, Miguel Edwards, last November. Edwards, along with two other CSS executives -Esmeralda Buchanan and José Alba- traveled to Mexico to learn about the drug storage and distribution system in that country. On April 7, the $ 168 million contract was awarded to the Consortium Salud en Control, made up of the Panamanian PMG Logistic Corp and the Mexican Intercontinental de Medicamentos, the latter questioned for irregularities. González reported that, "as a first step", he will request Edwards for a "supporting and explanatory report of said trip" to Mexico. In turn, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office announced yesterday that it is investigating the hiring of the consortium, "allegedly irregularly." For now, the director of the CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, is silent. Director of the CSS would have appointed the managers who traveled to Mexico Gregorio Guerrel is the representative of the National Confederation of Independent Trade Union Unity (Conusi) and the Single National Union of Workers in the Construction Industry and Similar (Suntracs) before the board of directors of the Social Security Fund (CSS). It is not a well-known voice outside those organizations, but this time it made itself heard before an issue that has been denounced by various means: the expenses of the social entity. Specifically, Guerrel is concerned about the recently suspended CSS tender to update, implement and integrate the processes for storing, distributing and dispensing medicines. Not all CSS managers want to address this issue through this medium, and Guerrel is one of the few that has. And one of the things he said is that members of the board were surprised to learn that three of its members would go to Mexico to learn about a system for storing, disposing, and delivering medications to public health entities in that country. Guerrel still clearly remembers the meetings of the board in October and last November when the topic was raised. “That [the trip to Mexico and the call for bids] had its origin when the CSS director [Enrique Lau Cortés] appointed a team of managers [in order to travel] to Mexico, to see how the robots, and that of the storage and dispensing of medicines. " Indeed, Lau Cortés presented the millionaire project, Guerrel recalls, after the president of the CSS board of directors, Miguel Ángel Edwards, together with the representative of the Health Professionals and Technicians unions, Esmeralda Buchanan, and The alternate delegate of public servants, José Alba, returned from Mexico, where they visited the states of Guanajuato and Jalisco, places where one of the winning companies of the tender has its automated system for dispensing medicines in operation, and where it has its headquarters. , respectively. The travelers -on their return- presented a report to the board, in which they praised the “new” system for dispensing medicines they knew in Mexico. "If it becomes a reality, [the project] will be beneficial to the insured class, which would have their medication in [a] faster time," Guerrel recalled. The trip to Mexico was also confirmed by another member of the CSS board, who preferred not to be identified, alleging fear of retaliation. He said that when the trip was proposed, it already came with indications from the General Directorate of the entity, so the vote to approve the trip was "protocol" when it was submitted to the consideration of the managers. Last December, the cost of the CSS tender went from $ 50 million to $ 200 million, at the request of Lau Cortés to the board of directors. "We opposed it because we do not have the same conditions as Mexico or the staff," said Guerrel, for which he said he had voted against increasing the cost of the tender. However, most of his colleagues on the board approved Lau Cortés' request. Guerrel maintains that the tender would not solve the problems in the purchase of medicines under the mechanisms existing in Law 1 of 2001. Neither did the confrontation of what he described as "the mafia behind the medicines." Above all, he said that the evaluation committee of the tender “did not review” in detail the documentation presented by the company investigated in Mexico, referring to Intercontinental de Medicamentos, S.A. de C.V. There is no record of the trip in the press releases of the CSS. However, José Alba -one of the travelers- affirmed that all the expenses of the visit were borne "by the Government of Mexico". However, he could not specify which public entity in that country invited them. Alba said that it was a short trip -from November 2 to 4, 2014-, that "on the morning of the 5th we were all at our jobs", which is doubtful considering that November 5 was national day off. Who was the invitation to travel to Mexico for? What Mexican authority bore the costs and what would be their motivations? These are some questions that were not answered by Lau Cortés at the end of this note. Yesterday, the Attorney General's Office and the Administration announced investigations into the CSS adjudication process. The Administration's attorney, Rigoberto González, initiated an investigation ex officio to determine how and why the three executives traveled to Mexico. Meanwhile, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into the hiring of the consortium, "allegedly irregularly." Complaint The president of the Pharmacists Association, Lilia Álvarez, denounced that to award the millionaire contract, the CSS would have violated the Law of 22 of 2006 on public contracting, because she said that in the evaluating commission appointed by the CSS to qualify the offers of the proponents "there was no one suitable." After an analysis of the documentation, he pointed out that they detected a violation of article 118 of the Public Procurement Law, which establishes the participation of a suitable professional within the evaluation commission. This commission - appointed by Lau Cortés - was made up of an economist, a lawyer, a civil engineer, a computer engineer and the deputy director of national logistics for the CSS, Demetrio Diamantópulos. Álvarez agreed with Guerrel that the millionaire contract with the Salud en Control consortium "will not solve" the shortage of medicines that the CSS suffers. Instead, he asked to improve the purchasing system, because "not even a robot is going to dispense medications that are not in our warehouses," he stressed. The latest reform to the Public Procurement Law, of July 2019 and sanctioned by President Laurentino Cortizo, indicates in its article 64 that the evaluating or verifying commission must be constituted “by qualified professionals in the object of the contracting”. It also warns that these "preferably, will be public servants", although not of the contracting entity. Process Guerrel revealed that CSS has spent more than $ 170 million on similar systems for 11 years, but "they have not solved the problem." In 2011, the CSS contracted, for $ 14.5 million, the software known as "Zafiro", developed by SAP and sold by the company Advanced Consulting Panama, S.A. In 2015, SAP vice president of global accounts for Latin America, Vicente García, pleaded guilty before a United States judge for participating "in a scheme to bribe" Panamanian officials to obtain contracts. Among the evidence found by the authorities was a trip to Mexico, paid to the then administrator of the National Authority for Government Innovation, Eduardo Jaén, who in 2016 confessed to having received bribes from SAP. Despite this, in 2017, the CSS contracted SAP International, for $ 3.9 million, to "reactivate support and maintenance services." At the time, the company dissociated itself from its Panamanian subsidiary accused of corruption. https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/procuradurias-investigan-a-la-css-por-el-contrato-de-168-millones/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundageba Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 9 hours ago, Moderator_02 said: Guerrel revealed that CSS has spent more than $ 170 million on similar systems for 11 years, but "they have not solved the problem." The CSS $160 million dollar contract. I am confused with what exactly is the service offered for this huge amount of money ( apart from the corruption...I get that part)...What IS "the problem that's never been solved. ? Storage and delivery of medicines? Seems like a lot of money for storage and distribution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 19, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted April 19, 2020 Quote Piden informes a la CSS sobre cómo se pagó el viaje a México Juan Manuel Díaz 19 abr 2020 - 12:00 AM Las procuradurías de la Nación y de la Administración no solo solicitarán detalles de un viaje de tres miembros de la junta directiva de la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) a México poco antes que esta entidad adjudicara a una empresa de ese país un contrato millonario, sino que pedirá toda la documentación relativa a esa licitación. La Fiscalía Anticorrupción pedirá a la CSS detalles de cómo se sufragaron los gastos del viaje de Miguel Edwards, Esmeralda Buchanan y José Alba. Se busca establecer, entre otras cosas, las condiciones del contrato de $168 millones para la instalación de un sistema de almacenamiento y distribución de medicamentos. Información similar ha pedido la Procuraduría de la Administración. Además, el MP solicitará información sobre las denuncias que advierten de fraude fiscal en México y operaciones similares que presuntamente involucran a empresas que participaron de la licitación. El pasado 7 de abril, la CSS adjudicó al Consorcio Salud en Control, integrado por la panameña PMG Logisc Corp y la mexicana Intercontinental de Medicamentos, S.A. de C.V., la licitación de $168 millones. El pasado 11 de abril, el presidente Laurentino Cortizo “instruyó” al director de la CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, para que suspendiera la contratación. Moderator comment: Below is an unedited atuomated translation of the above news article. Quote They request reports to the CSS on how the trip to Mexico was paid Juan Manuel Diaz Apr 19, 2020 - 12:00 AM <<CSS.jpg>> The Attorney General's Office and the Administration will not only request details of a trip by three members of the board of directors of the Social Security Fund (CSS) to Mexico shortly before this entity awarded a company in that country a millionaire contract, instead, it will request all the documentation related to that tender. The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office will ask the CSS for details of how the expenses of the trip of Miguel Edwards, Esmeralda Buchanan and José Alba were met. It seeks to establish, among other things, the conditions of the $ 168 million contract for the installation of a drug storage and distribution system. Similar information has been requested by the Attorney General's Office. In addition, the MP will request information about the complaints that warn of tax fraud in Mexico and similar operations that allegedly involve companies that participated in the tender. On April 7, the CSS awarded the Consortium Salud en Control, made up of the Panamanian PMG Logisc Corp and the Mexican Intercontinental de Medicamentos, S.A. de C.V., the tender for $ 168 million. On April 11, President Laurentino Cortizo "instructed" the director of the CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, to suspend the hiring. https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/piden-informes-a-la-css-sobre-como-se-pago-el-viaje-a-mexico/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 20, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted April 20, 2020 Quote Joy-riding CSS board members under investigation Under the microscope Posted 19/04/2020 The Attorney General's Office and the Administration will demand details of an all-expenses-paid trip by three members of the board of directors of the Social Security Fund (CSS) to Mexico, just just before the award of a $168 million contract to a company with a dubious background. They will also request all the documentation related to the tender. The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office will ask the Social Security(CSS) for details of how the expenses of the trip of Miguel Edwards, Esmeralda Buchanan and José Alba were met. It seeks to establish, among other things, the conditions of the $168 million contract for the installation of a drug storage and distribution system. The Public Ministry will also request information about the complaints that warn of tax fraud in Mexico previously exposed by La Prensa s and similar operations that allegedly involve companies that participated in the tender. On April 7, the CSS awarded the Consortium Salud en Control, made up of the Panamanian PMG Logisc Corp and the Mexican Intercontinental de Medicamentos, SA de CV, the tender for $ 168 million. The Panamanian company had no track record in the field and it issued photos showing the local director donating items to fight the coronavirus, prior to the awarding of the contract. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/joy-riding-css-board-members-called-to-explain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 21, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted April 21, 2020 Moderator comment: There are two apparently unrelated matters (CSS and ASEP) lumped together in this news article. The ASEP issue likely will not expand into a major national issue, and so it is just a tag-along here in this topic; if ASEP becomes a bigger issue then it will be separated at that point in time. Quote Diputados citan al director de la CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés y al director de la ASEP, Armando Fuentes La propuesta de citar a Enrique Lau Cortés fue impulsada por el diputado panameñista Luis Ernesto Carles. Aminta Bustamante 20 abr 2020 - 07:42 PM El director de la CSS deberá explicar a los diputados qué lo hizo cambiar de opinión y suspender la licitación. Richard Bonilla Un grupo de diputados de diversas bancadas aprobó este lunes 20 de abril una moción en la que citan al pleno de la Asamblea Nacional al director de la Caja del Seguro Social (CSS), Enrique Lau Cortés y al administrador general de la Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos (ASEP), Armando Fuentes. Lau Cortés deberá responder al menos ocho preguntas, en su mayoría, respecto al polémico contrato por $168 millones a favor del Consorcio Salud en Control, que fue suspendido a petición del presidente de la República, Laurentino Cortizo. Por ejemplo, deberá explicar en calidad de qué viajó con miembros de la junta directiva de la CSS a México, si ha iniciado alguna investigación que permita los orígenes de la relación con la empresa y se permita la incorporación de nuevos elementos que avalen tomar medidas necesarias y aplicables en este caso a los miembros de la junta directiva, “¿Señor director tiene usted conocimiento de los procesos de investigación que le siguen a estas empresas autoridades mexicanas?”, dice una de las preguntas. El director de la CSS también deberá explicar qué lo hizo cambiar de opinión y suspender la licitación y cuál es el estatus actual de este acto en contrataciones públicas. Además deberá contestar si considera que esa contratación resolverá el problema de la compra y distribución de medicamentos y deberá explicar a los diputados su diferencia con el proceso actual y sus posibles beneficios. Debe explicar, a la fecha, que estadística ha arrojado la implementación del sistema de mensajería motorizada para entrega de medicamentos. La propuesta de citar a Lau Cortés fue impulsada por el panameñista Luis Ernesto Carles. ASEP Mientras que el director de la ASEP deberá responder al menos 10 consultas a los diputados relacionadas al tema de la tarifa eléctrica y apagones constante en algunas provincias del país. Deberá explicar las acciones que ha tomado la ASEP para que se mejore la calidad del servicio de energía eléctrica desde que asumió el poder. También deberá responder cuántas sanciones ha aplicado la ASEP a las empresas de energía eléctrica por las constantes fluctuaciones y qué medida de fiscalización ha tomado la entidad ante el real consumo de los usuarios. La moción de citar al administrador fue una propuesta impulsada por la diputada de Cambio Democrático, Yanibel Ábrego, quien entre otras cosas, manifestó que todos los días recibe quejas de personas sobre el aumento de su tarifa eléctrica, apagones y demás. “He recibido múltiples llamadas de panameños que dicen que tienen un negocio, que está cerrado, apagaron todo y que el recibo de luz le vino esta semana por el mismo monto como si ellos hubiesen estado funcionando y en otros lugares le vino aún más dinero. Yo quisiera saber que está haciendo la ASEP por todos los panameños que se están manifestando en las redes sociales, mediante llamadas a las autoridades ... ”, se quejó. Dijo que a la ASEP se le han dado instrumento para enfrentar los abusos de las empresas eléctricas. “Es inaceptable el robe que estas empresas históricamente le han hecho a todos los panameños”. Varios diputados se unieron al llamado de Ábrego y manifestaron su opinión durante el periodo de incidencias. Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article. (Personal opinion here, but I believe the translation of 'citan' in the title of the article into 'cite' might better be translated as 'subpoena'.) Quote Deputies cite the director of the CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés and the director of the ASEP, Armando Fuentes The proposal to quote Enrique Lau Cortés was promoted by Panamanian deputy Luis Ernesto Carles. Aminta Bustamante Apr 20, 2020 - 07:42 PM <<BVQUO7VH6BC3HLPL7TMGK5OTAA.jpeg>> The director of the CSS must explain to the deputies what made him change his mind and suspend the tender. Richard Bonilla A group of deputies from various benches approved this Monday, April 20, a motion in which they cite the director of the Social Security Fund (CSS), Enrique Lau Cortés and the general administrator of the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP), Armando Fuentes. Lau Cortés will have to answer at least eight questions, mostly, regarding the controversial $ 168 million contract in favor of the Health in Control Consortium, which was suspended at the request of the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo. For example, you must explain how you traveled with members of the CSS board of directors to Mexico, if you have started any investigation that allows the origins of the relationship with the company and allows the incorporation of new elements that guarantee taking necessary measures and applicable in this case to the members of the board of directors, "Mr. Director, are you aware of the investigation processes that are followed by these companies, Mexican authorities?" Says one of the questions. The CSS director must also explain what made him change his mind and suspend the tender and what is the current status of this act in public procurement. In addition, you must answer if you consider that this contract will solve the problem of the purchase and distribution of medicines and you must explain to the deputies your difference with the current process and its possible benefits. To date, it must explain what statistics the implementation of the motorized messaging system for drug delivery has yielded. The proposal to cite Lau Cortés was promoted by Panamanian Luis Ernesto Carles. ASEP While the director of the ASEP must answer at least 10 queries to the deputies related to the issue of the electricity rate and constant blackouts in some provinces of the country. You must explain the actions that ASEP has taken to improve the quality of the electric power service since it assumed power. You should also answer how many sanctions the ASEP has applied to the electric power companies for the constant fluctuations and what control measure the entity has taken against the real consumption of the users. The motion to cite the administrator was a proposal promoted by the Deputy for Democratic Change, Yanibel Ábrego, who among other things, stated that every day she receives complaints from people about the increase in her electricity rate, blackouts and others. “I have received multiple calls from Panamanians who say they have a business, that it is closed, they turned everything off and that the electricity bill came to him this week for the same amount as if they had been operating and in other places even more money came to him. I would like to know what ASEP is doing for all Panamanians who are demonstrating on social networks, through calls to the authorities ... ”, he complained. He said that ASEP has been given an instrument to confront abuses by electricity companies. "The theft that these companies have historically done to all Panamanians is unacceptable." Several deputies joined Ábrego's call and expressed their opinion during the incident period. https://www.prensa.com/politica/diputados-citan-al-director-de-la-css-enrique-lau-cortes-y-al-director-de-la-asep-armando-fuentes/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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