You're reading: Azarov promises to punish officials involved In violations during medicine procurement tenders

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has promised to punish government officials that commit violations during tenders for state procurement of medical equipment and medicines.

Azarov made the promise while addressing journalists.

"Everyone should know that he will answer for his deeds or actions sooner or later. Whoever is caught sooner will answer sooner and whoever is caught later will answer later," Azarov said.

Azarov admitted that there are certain problems in this area, but he stressed that efforts were being made to uncover violations.

"Unfortunately, it is not everywhere that we have people who are capable of differentiating between their own interests and government interests. This is a big problem, and I would say that a very serious clear out of those people that are involved in irrational procurements and irrational organization of tenders is needed," Azarov said.

According to Azarov, the government has a large arsenal of measures that will be used against violators.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the parliamentary health committee called on Health Minister Zinovii Mytnyk in early June to deliver a report to the parliament on his work in the Health Ministry during the period of 2008-2009.

According to the committee’s chairwoman Tetiana Bakhteeva, the committee has received the results of a review conducted by the Audit Department and the Accounting Chamber, which indicate that the state lost a lot of money when Mytnyk was the head of the Health Ministry’s tender committee.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Mykola Tomenko has said that some members of the Party of the Regions, including Bakhteeva, are seeking removal of Mytnyk from the post of Health Minister.