Drug supplier: We have no link with Deyalsingh

VARY Medical & Scientific Co Ltd says it has no connection to Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh, contrary to recent assertions made by political commentators.

The company, which describes itself as having been a provider of medical goods and services since 2012, issued a statement on Wednesday, two days after Deyalsingh also denied a family link between the minister and the company.

Deyalsingh also said no contractual arrangement had been reached between the Health Ministry and Vary.

The company also denied that its business address, listed as 80 Ramsaran Street, Chaguanas, is shared with any organisation linked to Deyalsingh, and that there were any contractual arrangements between the ministry and Vary for buying vaccines.

"Vary confirms the minister's statement that it is not an authorised distributor for AstraZeneca Plc or any of its subsidiaries and is not authorised to offer covid19 vaccines for sale on behalf of AstraZeneca Plc or any of its subsidiaries."

Vary listed some ten points to "deny and condemn any and all suggestions of improper conduct in the carrying out of its business," saying any such suggestions are "scandalous, misinformed and without merit."

Vary said it has been authorised by reputable suppliers and distributors of pharmaceutics to "determine whether there is potential interest for the supply of Covishield covid19 vaccines as manufactured by the Serum Institute of India."

On this basis, it confirmed, it had written to the Minister of Health and his Permanent Secretary, the Chief Medical Officer , and the Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development at the Tobago House of Assembly, about the possible supply of covid19 vaccines.

If the government placed orders of expressions of interest, it said, they would be processed "through the relevant authorised channels to be filled and supplied, subject in each case to due clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India."