Surgical light manufacturer Getinge banned from tendering for new contracts: Hospital Authority

The Hospital Authority (HA) has excluded a contractor from participating in tendering and quotation exercises for all ceiling-mount medical equipment for at least one year, as part of the disciplinary actions on the surgical light falling incident at United Christian Hospital in February.

Getinge Group, the contractor concerned, was also requested to settle compensation to the HA for all losses and expenses incurred from the incident. Furthermore, the group has to make an open apology to the Authority.

HA said it would consider lifting the suspension from tendering only after the contractor's service performance and quality are reviewed and has proved capable of meeting the requirements.

"Considering the severity of the surgical light falling incident and the performance of the contractor concerned, the HA decided to take a series of disciplinary actions to vigorously pursue the liabilities of the contractor concerned," the HA spokesman said.

The Authority added that it will introduce a new marking scheme to ensure the quality of tendering and quotation exercises, along with taking into consideration any poor past performance of the bidders during the assessment of the procurement exercise.