Health Minister Memişoğlu had made headlines with a multi-million Covid-19 tender: 'Is it a crime to love Menzil?'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has appointed Istanbul Provincial Health Director Kemal Memişoğlu to the Ministry of Health, which was vacated by Fahrettin Koca following his resignation. 

Memişoğlu had previously made headlines during his time as the Istanbul Provincial Health Director due to tenders he awarded to a company linked to the Menzil Community and a circular he issued regarding the "attire" of healthcare workers. 

AWARDED MULTI-MILLION TENDERS

In a report published by BirGün on November 30, 2022, titled "Covid-19 tests also to the Menzil member's company," it was stated that Covid-19 tests in public hospitals in Istanbul were being conducted by a company belonging to the Menzil group.  

According to information in the Public Procurement Bulletin, the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate held a tender on November 5, 2020, under the name 'procurement of 6-month result-based Covid-19 PCR test services for health facilities.' As a result of the tender, which was conducted under Article 21/b of the Public Procurement Law that allows for the 'bargaining' method, a contract was signed for the tests to be performed at seven major public hospitals for six months, covering the period from January 1 to June 30, for 144 million TL by Techno Health Laboratuar and Gen Era Diagnostik Sağlık Hizmetleri Company.

According to the report by İsmail Arı from BirGün; the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate held another tender on September 11, 2020, under the name “Procurement of Result-Based Covid-19 PCR Test Services.” This tender, also held via the bargaining method, was awarded to the Techno Health Laboratuar Company, known for its proximity to the Menzil Community. A contract worth 55 million 812 thousand TL was signed between the company and the Provincial Health Directorate.

COMPANY PARTNER WAS A MENZIL MEMBER

Ferhat Danışman, who was a partner of the Techno Health Laboratuar Company at the time, was a member of the Menzil Community. During the period when he received tenders from the Provincial Health Directorate, Danışman was also serving as the Financial Services Coordinator at Emsey Hospital, which is known to belong to Menzil. 

"WE CALLED BY PHONE AND PARTICIPATED IN THE TENDER"

Making a statement after the BirGün report, Mehmet Rüştü Kaya, the manager of the Techno Health Laboratuar Company, said, "Ferhat Danışman is also a partner in our company. Mr. Ferhat may work at Emsey Hospital, he may love Menzil, he may go to Menzil. So what? Is it a crime to go to Menzil or to love Menzil?" and continued his words as follows: 

"We submitted a bid of approximately 29 TL per test. We will perform a total of 5 million Covid-19 tests in seven hospitals over six months and will receive a fee of approximately 29 TL per test. We will employ a total of 149 personnel in seven hospitals. We will install 50 PCR test booths and devices. We will install our devices in the areas allocated to us within the hospital and provide results in five hours. In other words, we will operate the laboratory entirely; only the swabbing process will be performed by Ministry of Health personnel because it is a medical operation. When there was such a tender in Istanbul, I frankly wanted to participate. When I saw the price of 124 TL in İzmir, I said 'This is too expensive' and wanted to work on it. In fact, I was not invited to the tender in Istanbul, and I specifically called to ensure my firm was invited."

SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL

Ferhat Danışman, who did not hide his closeness to the Menzil Community on his social media account, had shared a photo with the caption, "The soup drunk in Menzil does not leave a person's stomach for 100 years." Danışman, who became a subject of public debate due to the tenders he received, transferred his shares in the company a short while ago.