Parliament accuses Health Minister of violating constitution

The Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has accused the Health Minister of being in violation of the Parliamentary regulations after the Minister failed to provide answers to a set of questions proposed by an MP.

MP Haitham from South Mahchangoalhi proposed a set of ten questions to the Minister regarding the issue of ventilators to be imported into the Maldives. The ventilators are to be used to treat COVID-19 patients in the country.

A notice to answer the questions was sent to the Minister on April 14 and expired yesterday at 14:00. The Minister had not responded to the questions by that time.

“…The speaker of the parliament views that the Minister is in violation of the parliamentary regulations and the constitution.” Read a statement by the parliament.

Many have alleged that acts of corruption surround the ventilators and questions have been posed at the Health Minister over the matter.

Questions posed by MP Haitham.

• Whether the work to import the ventilators is being conducted?
• What the process of importing ventilators is?
• If the process has been completed, how was the process conducted?
• Whether the process was conducted under a bidding policy?
• If there was a bidding process, how many took part in the bidding process?
• If there was a bidding process, who was the successful applicant?
• What is the duration of delivery?
• Why the ventilators have not been received by the country?
• When could the country expect to receive the ventilators?
• What is the latest update on the matter?

The government has stated that it was targeting to establish 200 ventilators in the country and that 70 ventilators were already being imported. The government has stated that assurances of receiving the ventilators were received and were facing delays due to the travel restrictions placed internationally.