KINGSTON, Jamaica — Medical Technologies Limited says it is considering legal action to protect its reputation following claims by Opposition Spokesperson on Health, Dr Alfred Dawes, that a drill procured by the South-East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) for the Bustamante Hospital for Children was significantly marked up in price.

The claims were reiterated by Dr Dawes during a press conference on Tuesday as he revealed he had requested that the Auditor General’s Department and the Integrity Commission investigate the procurement of the $31.5 million neurosurgical drill, alleging a “web of corruption” surrounding the controversial purchase.

READ: Dawes alleges ‘web of corruption’ over $31m neuro drill; requests auditor general and IC probe

Now, Medical Technologies Limited is rejecting claims that the purchased drill was over-priced, and says that to date, the equipment has not even been paid for by the Government.

“Managing Director of Medical Technologies Limited, Athol Hamilton, rejects as simply untrue the allegations and suggestions by Dr Dawes that the company has been involved in massive overpricing in the acquisition of the Medtronic Neurosurgical Drill for the Bustamante Children’s Hospital,” the company, which says it is an authorised distributor in Jamaica for the Medtronic Neurosurgical Drills, said in a statement on Wednesday.

It continued, “Specifically, we find disturbing the claims made by Dr Dawes that the drill purchased by SERHA for the hospital was not new and that the purchase price was around J$250,000. Both claims are false.”

The company claimed the “drill” Dawes is referring to is actually the motor component of a drill. Medical Technologies listed what it described as a “series of truths” in the statement, including that the drill referenced by Dawes in his press conference and the documents he showed represented the motor component of a drill owned by Medical Technologies, purchased some years ago.

It noted that the motor component (EM200 Legend EHS Stylus motor) was sent to the United States on September 26, 2024 for repairs. Attached to the statement was a commercial invoice for the repair to support its claim.

“The drill repair, therefore, has nothing to do with the new drill of a different model sold to SERHA,” it said.

The company also contended that the neurosurgical drill sold to SERHA is a new EM800 series drill and not the EM200 model, and that Medical Technologies Limited participated in a transparent tender process for the procurement of the neurosurgical drill and was successful in their bid.

“It is also important to note that no advance payment was made by SERHA and, to date, Medical Technologies Limited has not been paid for the equipment, despite it being delivered almost seven months ago and being used by surgeons at Bustamante Hospital for Children,” it added.

The company said it will be taking all necessary legal steps to protect its name and reputation.