Health Minister Patricia Hajdu’s department shipped 350 Baylis Medical ventilators to India that couldn’t plug into wall sockets — the department forgot to include $9 electrical adaptors, according to a briefing note obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter..“A delivery on May 5 included an immediate 50 ventilators as part of an initial supply of up to 350 ventilators,” said the note..The health department said it took delivery of 2,500 ventilators from Baylis Medical Company, a Montréal subcontractor owned by Frank Baylis, former Liberal MP (Pierrefonds-Dollard, Que.) who retired from the Commons in 2019..The ventilators were ordered under a $237 million sole-sourced contract..“Baylis Medical was involved in the contract negotiations,” according to a separate April 2, 2020 memo..However, the ventilators require a different electrical cord for use in India..“The ventilator manufacturer, Baylis Medical, was able to secure the power cords required for the immediate shipment of 50 ventilators with remaining ventilators subsequently being shipped with adaptors,” said a June 18 briefing note National Emergency Strategic Stockpile Management..Adaptors retail for $9 apiece..“Due to a significant surge in COVID-19 cases in India, the Government of Canada is sending up to 25,000 vials of the antiviral remdesivir and up to 350 Baylis Medical ventilators from its National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to help respond to the critical situation in India,” wrote staff..The health department acknowledged it ordered too many pandemic ventilators under $720 million contracts with various suppliers. Of 38,520 machines that were ordered a total 27,689 were delivered as of last March 25. Most were stored in an Ottawa warehouse..“Canada now has more ventilators than would be needed,” wrote staff..The department said it had so many ventilators it was trying to renegotiate contracts with suppliers..“The Department of Public Works and Public Health Agency of Canada are working with the manufacturers to identify opportunities to reduce the volumes,” it said..Public Works Minister Anita Anand in March 24 testimony at the Commons government operations committee said there was little chance of getting refunds on ventilators that were ordered and never used..“I do have the Canadian taxpayers’ interests at heart when I am doing my job,” said Anand. “I am very, very concerned with that issue myself.”
Health Minister Patricia Hajdu’s department shipped 350 Baylis Medical ventilators to India that couldn’t plug into wall sockets — the department forgot to include $9 electrical adaptors, according to a briefing note obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter..“A delivery on May 5 included an immediate 50 ventilators as part of an initial supply of up to 350 ventilators,” said the note..The health department said it took delivery of 2,500 ventilators from Baylis Medical Company, a Montréal subcontractor owned by Frank Baylis, former Liberal MP (Pierrefonds-Dollard, Que.) who retired from the Commons in 2019..The ventilators were ordered under a $237 million sole-sourced contract..“Baylis Medical was involved in the contract negotiations,” according to a separate April 2, 2020 memo..However, the ventilators require a different electrical cord for use in India..“The ventilator manufacturer, Baylis Medical, was able to secure the power cords required for the immediate shipment of 50 ventilators with remaining ventilators subsequently being shipped with adaptors,” said a June 18 briefing note National Emergency Strategic Stockpile Management..Adaptors retail for $9 apiece..“Due to a significant surge in COVID-19 cases in India, the Government of Canada is sending up to 25,000 vials of the antiviral remdesivir and up to 350 Baylis Medical ventilators from its National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to help respond to the critical situation in India,” wrote staff..The health department acknowledged it ordered too many pandemic ventilators under $720 million contracts with various suppliers. Of 38,520 machines that were ordered a total 27,689 were delivered as of last March 25. Most were stored in an Ottawa warehouse..“Canada now has more ventilators than would be needed,” wrote staff..The department said it had so many ventilators it was trying to renegotiate contracts with suppliers..“The Department of Public Works and Public Health Agency of Canada are working with the manufacturers to identify opportunities to reduce the volumes,” it said..Public Works Minister Anita Anand in March 24 testimony at the Commons government operations committee said there was little chance of getting refunds on ventilators that were ordered and never used..“I do have the Canadian taxpayers’ interests at heart when I am doing my job,” said Anand. “I am very, very concerned with that issue myself.”
