Doctor Ricardo Fabro responds to allegations against him
Earlier in the newscast we reported on the testimonies of Doctors Jose Guerra and John Sosa in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry. The last to testify today was Dr. Ricardo Fabro. His name surfaced persistently when the scandal first broke because the B.M.D.U. claimed that there was conflict of interest. That’s because Fabro’s wife, Maria Cardona’s company, MC Pharmaceuticals, sold supplies to the K.H.M.H. The company was given a contract for seven hundred thousand dollars and the B.M.D.U. had called for Fabro’s removal or resignation along with Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gary Longsworth and Director of Finance, Carlos Perrera. Accompanied by his legal advisor, Leo Bradley, Fabro was questioned about his affiliation with his wife’s company, defective supplies and other allegations made about him.
Julia Castillo, Commissioner
“How long has MC Pharmaceuticals been involved in the tendering process with the Ministry of Health?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro, Chairman, K.H.M.H. Board
“It was just that one year, April 2008 to March of 2009.”
Orvin Nicholas, Commissioner
“Are you a shareholder in that company?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“No sir; it’s a sole proprietorship.”
Justice Adolph Lucas, Chief Commissioner
“You held out yourself as being affiliated to that company, it’s a question.”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“I don’t know what you mean by being affiliated.”
Adolph Lucas
“Did you write anything…”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“No in the letters that I wrote I always finished, for MC Pharmaceutical.”
Adolph Lucas
“Do you know about the complaint with respect to the micro IV dropper set?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“Yes I do.”
Adolph Lucas
“Was it defected indeed?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“Yes it was.”
Adolph Lucas
“What did the company do?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“The company had some complaints from different institutions, basically Karl Heusner and probably Belmopan. Nothing was in writing but we responded because I was shown by my wife and I saw that yes it was defected. So we basically wanted to pull it out and to replace it with some other ones from Mexico, so were we accepting responsibility. MC Pharmaceuticals was never paid for any micro dropper. Not one cent was paid for it.”
Fabro was also quizzed about claims made by the hospital’s former Director of Finance, Cecil Knowles, who said Fabro instructed him to purchase supplies from De la Fuente Pharmacy at much higher prices. Fabro was not removed nor fired, but he said he has stayed away from the institution to give the audit team room to operate independently. As for Ghazi’s demotion, Fabro said there was no immediate reason for it except that Ghazi was not performing. Contrary to what Sosa said, Fabro maintained that there was no one in mind for Ghazi’s replacement.
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“The Board noticed that Ghazi was not up to the job and we had asked him for different things, like protocols for the private wards and different issues that he was not dealing with and we thought that we would prefer someone that could deal with those issues and improve the system at the medical level.”
Orvin Nicholas, Commissioner
“Did you have anybody specially in mind?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“At that point in time, no.”
Adolph Lucas
“Do you attend meetings? Do you chair the meetings?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“I haven’t…yes until July I think.”
Adolph Lucas
“The question is why you suspended or stopped.”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“Okay, I would put it this way I recuse myself because of all the allegations of improprieties. The doctors apparently wanted me to get removed as Chairman. I thought that their allegations were just that, allegations without any evidence.”
Adolph Lucas
“What was the allegation in your view?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“What they have been saying, that there are improprieties.”
Adolph Lucas
“Like what?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“With the purchasing of supplies and I guess we were more co-ersed to act because of the pressures of the public opinion that might have been against us. So to quell that situation I basically chose to recuse myself while the Commission and the auditors did their investigation.”
Adolph Lucas
“If the hospital couldn’t obtain supplies from CMS (Central Medical Stores) priority in obtaining them, the alternative source then was from De la Fuente according to Mr. Knowles because you instructed him. Remember when you said there were allegations from the onset. Can you reply to that Doctor?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“I can simply say that I gave no such directive to Mr. Knowles and I think the evidence shows that not to be so. We have over thirty-two suppliers supplying various types of supplies to K.H.M.H. to various amounts. So I refute that and the evidence also refutes that.”
Orvin Nicholas
“What about the special medication that Dr. Sosa spoke about where it could be bought for eighteen dollars and you all bought it for eighty-four seventy-three?”
Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“I would not know about that situation.”
Fabro also denied that he instructions from whom supplies were to be purchased. Before the inquiry comes to an end, the other big name in the middle of the allegations is the C.E.O., Dr. Gary Longsworth. He takes the oath on Wednesday along with Merlene Myvette and Miriam Coleman.
