Takeover of Apollo Bramwell Hospital: digging around the deal

When the Finance Minister’s statements create confusion not only for the Opposition but for the identified buyers of the Apollo Bramwell Hospital, doubts certainly follow suit. What is the real deal behind the becoming of Omega Ark Hospital?

Is the takeover of Apollo Bramwell hospital by the so-called international conglomerate Omega Ark Group Plc a new scandal? The Opposition is of the opinion that it has uncovered another MedPoint Affair and hence its leader, Paul Bérenger, chose to put a Private Notice Question (PNQ) to Finance Minister Pravind Jugnauth on this issue on August 31. Governmenthowever maintains that Omega Ark was the best proposal obtained for the sale of the hospital in question.

The objective of the PNQ was to obtain from the Finance Minister more insight into this deal, especially regarding whether payment had been done or not. Certain questions, however, were left unanswered. This PNQ was also the spark that ignited political tensions anew between Paul Bérenger and Pravind Jugnauth when the leader of the Opposition compared the deal to another MedPoint Affair; with the whole thing stinking of “a fraud”. He voiced out the need to have a full-fledged commission of enquiry, chaired by a retired judge and two assessors.

In a bid to try and shed light on this matter, Business Magazine met with Omega Ark Chairman Vickhram Katralh for a second time. This Wednesday’s issue of Business Magazine is accompanied by the free supplement Men’s style, which invites readers to muscle up.