Local firms fume over Chinese nursing uniforms

Namibia Manufacturers Association (NMA) chairman Brian Black has labelled the importing of medical uniforms from China by the Ministry of Health and Social Services as “shameful and ludicrous”. Black said the NMA strongly opposes this, as it is not in alignment with what other government ministries are doing. Health and Social Services Minister Dr Richard Kamwi confirmed the Chinese uniform imports during his ministry’s budget presentation in parliament last week. According to Black, although the total cost of the importing of uniforms is unknown, Namibia has over 90 registered manufacturing companies that are skilled and equipped to deliver these uniforms. He added that local companies are able to compete with their foreign counterparts. Black said the decision by the ministry look to China is also wrong, because there should have been a transparent tender process, in which local companies should have been given an opportunity to compete. “It is sad, shameful and it does not make sense that the health ministry is denying locally-based companies an opportunity to deliver the required products. It is not as if these local manufacturers do not have the capacity, but the decision by the ministry is biased against them,” he said. Flawed procurement procedures Black said there was a lack of proper procurement procedures in government, because the health ministry was not replicating what the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade and Industry, was doing in terms of promoting the local manufacturing industry. He also dismissed Health and Social Services Permanent Secretary Andrew Ndishishi’s explanation yesterday that they sought out Chinese manufacturers Beijing Angel Hospital Uniforms and Zouping ChangShan Textiles P&D, because the companies use specialised fabrics that prevent contamination and infections. ‘Skill transfer’ Ndishishi said the ministry was expected to go into a long term agreement with Zouping ChangShan Textiles P&D for the procurement of tailor-made materials once all necessary conditions have been met. “Once an agreement has been reached, the company will be expected to produce a designed catalogue for Namibia, provide training and adequate skills transfer to local companies to be responsible for manufacturing of all uniforms in the country,” said the health permanent secretary. Dubious process However, Black said this is still not an adequate explanation, as even if the type or specification of the material from China are not available in Namibia, local manufacturers should have been given a chance procure such material themselves, as part of delivering the products required. “So in the absence of this specification being made public through a tender process by ministry to local companies, I just do not buy their explanation, because it makes the process dubious and appalling. Besides, if the ministry is conducting its own procurement, it can lead to corruption or intent to commit it,” Black added.