The Papua New Guinea Government has granted a contract, worth US$2.8 million, to a company established just a month ago, for a Covid-19 cure.
The Post Courier newspaper reports that the government expects the company to create a new miracle drug that will save people in PNG and around the world from coronavirus.
Photo: AFP
Earlier this year Australia announced it would share vaccines with PNG and other Pacific nations, and had pledged millions for research and development to assist PNG as well.
The paper says several ministers are not happy with the grant because they did not believe proper processes were followed.
It reported the National Procurement Commission chief executive Simon Bole did not respond to questions as whether the deal had gone through the proper procurement processes.
The paper quoted one senior cabinet minister saying "when you deal with drugs you deal with people so… I didn't sign this one because I did not believe in it, I still think that we should follow the proper process."