Conflict of interest in Consalud, after a short contract

The resignation of an official of the National Coordinator of Health (Consalud) has attracted considerable doubt after this left public office to be part of the company was favored with a contract with the state.

It turns out that, after the sale of four air conditioners for San Miguel Arcangel (HSMA) Hospital, the company Asociación Accidental Halfesa-Delta Electromechanical Services S.A. hired Mateo Cartes.

The former official was serving as head of the Procurement Unit Consalud. In that entity he had to upload to PanamáCompra all the contracts, among other functions. In other words, he knows the details of the contracts.

This is not seen in good form by experts in public procurement because they claim it is then when he begins to doubt the transparency in this type of agreement.

For presidential candidate John Jované, the matter should be investigated because there may be a potential conflict of interest.

"That position could lead to the institution to maintain a favoritism that company and the former official, a relationship that is not healthy because it ends up creating a huge conflict of interest is created," said Jované.

According to the lawyer Ernesto Cedeño, the new public procurement law does not touch the topic, so consider that this should be assessed.

"There should be a rule that says if someone holds public office and leaves, can not work in any company that has obtained contract with the entity where the person worked," he said.

Cedeño also said that, even though the law does not prohibit an official pass to private lines, the person must make a balance between the ethical and professional.

Suspicion about the health

The possible exception is that, curiously, Tecnología Industrial SA, Asociación Accidental Halfesa-Delta Electromechanical Services S.A. and Enginiería en Servicios Integrales S.A. they had the same amount of money in revealing their proposals, which was for $89,452.

But Consalud concluded that between the first two companies mentioned had a technical tie. However, Tecnología Industrial S.A. win the contract at random, as permitted by law.

And the thing was not to the liking of the owner of MoH, Javier Terrientes.

Then the officials canceled the event for Tecnología Industrial S.A.

Terrientes argued inconsistency in delivery time and other alleged inconveniences.

After this point, he turned to make another call to the September 8, 2015.

In this public act, only the company Asociación Accidental Halfesa-Delta Electromechanical Services S.A, which claimed the contract was presented.