• Govt. Radiological Technologists take offence with Rs. 300 m mammogram machine and CT scanner purchases for Gampaha, Avisswella
• Cite absence of their own in Tech. Eval. Comms., tech. specification list not including key patient safety and accurate testing requirements, corporate bias  
•  WPC Health Secy. claims CT scanner procurement postponed due to cost 

The Government Radiological Technologists’ Association (GRTA) expressed concern over the procurement of radiological equipment by the Western Provincial Council’s (WPC) Health Ministry, calling it problematic and a waste of public funds.

The President of the GRTA, Chanaka Dharmawickrama accused the WPC yesterday (22) of rushing to buy a mammogram machine for the Gampaha District General Hospital (DGH) and a computed tomography (CT) scanner for the Avissawella DGH. He claimed that Rs. 100 million has been set aside for the mammogram machine and Rs. 200 million for the CT scanner, making it a total of Rs. 300 million in public funds for the two purchases. 

“In the case of the mammogram machine, the radiological technologist — who should represent the end-user according to the Health Ministry Secretary’s circular — has not been included in the Technical Evaluation Committee. The consultant radiologist on the committee has also resigned, citing concerns over the transaction. The technical specification list for the mammogram machine does not include several key requirements essential for patient safety and accurate testing. Reports suggest that the specifications may have been prepared to favour a pre-selected company. Similarly, a radiological technologist was not included in the Technical Evaluation Committee for the CT scanner. Reports also indicate that the specifications for this purchase were designed to suit a few chosen companies. The machine under consideration is far more advanced than that which the Hospital needs, leading to unnecessary costs. It will also require a high annual maintenance budget. In 2023, the WPC spent Rs. 3.45 million on a radiological machine for the Minuwangoda Base Hospital under similar circumstances, even though a suitable machine could have been purchased for Rs. 1.5 million. That machine is still not being used to its full capacity”.

Dharmawickrama claimed that over the years, the WPC Health Ministry tends to rush equipment purchases towards the end of the year. “Despite previous warnings to the authorities, no investigations were conducted, leading to large losses of public money”.

He called for a full investigation into these transactions and urged the appointment of a properly formed Technical Evaluation Committee with the right expertise. “This Committee should recommend machines suitable for the hospitals and ensure reliable patient testing”. The GRTA also called for swift action against the officials involved in these questionable purchases.

However, the WPC Health Secretary, L.A. Kalukapuarachchi told The Daily Morning that while there were no issues with the mammogram machine, there were problems with the CT scanner. “As the procurement cost was over Rs. 250 million, a decision was made to delay the purchase until next year (2026). As of now, that chapter is closed,” he said.