Last month’s Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital shook the country and prompted philanthropist Yevhen Vember to raise more than $9 million for urgent repairs. However, the recently announced tender for the reconstruction of the “Okhmatdyt” hospital in Kyiv, organized by his foundation, was canceled after an investigation by a journalist who suggested that the tender was rigged. This caused a wave of indignation among the public, reports Reuters.
In an interview with Reuters, Vember denied the allegations of wrongdoing. He noted that the “Okhmatdit” foundation, which he heads, held a tender in order to ensure transparency. The hospital engaged external legal and technical experts to select potential winners. According to Vember, no funds have been spent yet.
The case underscores the growing intolerance of corruption in Ukraine, which is in the midst of a 30-month-long Russian invasion that is draining the country’s human and material resources. It also emphasizes the level of scrutiny that is likely to accompany donor-funded reconstruction projects as Ukraine begins to rebuild after the war.
Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko said that he asked the police to check the tender of the hospital for possible illegal actions. At this time, an investigation has not yet begun and no charges have been filed.
Lyashko also announced a new tender and increased oversight, although the delay could mean the work won’t be completed until winter. The attack on Okhmatdyt on July 8, which killed two people, shocked the nation. Footage of injured children fleeing from the scene and bloodied doctors sorting out the debris left a deep mark in the hearts of Ukrainians.
After the tragedy, Ukrainians and leading companies of the country began to actively send donations, in particular to the Vember Foundation, which since the beginning of the war has been raising funds to support children in difficult situations.
Journalist Yuriy Nikolov from the publication “Nashi Groshi”, which investigates suspicions of corruption, noted that the private tender for the reconstruction of a smaller building at the hospital initially looked promising, as 14 companies that submitted applications were publicly announced. However, after the investigation, possible violations were revealed, which caused a further scandal.
This situation shows how carefully all reconstruction projects financed by donor funds will be monitored, because Ukraine continues to fight not only with an external enemy, but also with internal problems.
