Legal expert Robert Myhre believes the authorities may have violated the regulations for public procurement when they bought 15 million rapid tests before Christmas.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) has gained access to the procurement documents for the authorities’ purchase of 15 million new rapid tests for NOK 530 million before Christmas. There is no trace of any tender competition.
Myhre, who is an expert in public law and has sat on the Complaints Board for Public Procurement, says that any complainants that are unsatisfied with this procurement may have a good case.
Insufficient transparency?
“As a basic principle, public procurement should be verifiable, but here it is not verifiable how the offers have been evaluated. There is no trace of justification for why they have chosen these suppliers,” he told NRK.
The Hospital Procurement Authority and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, responsible for the procurement, refer to the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
Assistant Director of Health Espen Rostrup Nakstad replied that it was urgent to obtain the tests.
“The tests were purchased because omicron increased the demand almost overnight. It turned out that fully vaccinated people also spread the infection, so it became necessary to test vaccinated people as well,” he noted.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]
Be the first to comment on "Norwegian authorities bought 15 million rapid corona tests outside the tender process"