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Labour are aware of most of it but lets see how much they can realistically do about it
https://labour.org.uk/press/labour-accuses-government-of-a-corruption-cover-up-over-3-5-billion-of-tory-linked-covid-contracts/
I've written a letter to the health secretary team, shadow health secretary team and leaders of the conservative / labour party highlighting these issues and solutions. Especially highlighting the UK manufacturing partnership who have upscaled, have superior tests and are ready to go but not been given a test to manufacture. This can give an instant surge of Visitect tests into the market within hours if needed. Also I've highlighted the games the gov have played with GDR, ABDX, NCYT and not paying manufacturers in some cases despite providing a service.
Let see if any happens.
hear hear
Classic corruption. It creates more bureaucracy and hurdles to restrict supply thus allowing your mates to bypass the system and get market monopoly. Similar fiasco with the PPE supply.
Am sure they would have contacted the relevant companies already, many of which they are currently using eg surescreen (who have ramped up their production capacity by end of the year) and Orient Gene. To utilize ODX would need further negotiations, tech transfer of the required test etc which can take weeks whereas demand is needed now (and a bent tory MP always helps)
a bent Tory party member to help fast track everything?
Even if ODX get CE mark for home use/self test use, they will still need to submit for CTDA approval for the tests to be used in the UK. This will easily take months and I fear we could be in summer 2022 and waiting approval. I'd be surprised if the gov batted an eye lid and uses ODXs' capacity even if it is for manufacturing of another test.
No need to rely on the gov. They have screwed most of the UK LFT testing manufacturers and will not be surprised if they continue to do the same. Have no expectations from them. Private all the way
The RNS should have also stated the recent EU commons list approval (as its the same test). However am not sure if ODX have made a separate submission to the EU for this. Have emailed wallybrook for confirmation.
My bad calderkate. Must have missed this.
For point 3, as far as previous RNS and the interviews have gone, the DHSC equipment is just sitting there idle and ODX were not allowed to use it. So we are still maxed at 1 million/week capacity. Wallybrook had told me weeks ago that there were no plans to further expand capacity.
What I fail to understand is why other companies like GDR are able to say that their test will be approved in 10 days, yet when it comes to colin despite submission, months later things are "making good progress". He is absolutely clueless. Those that have submitted the paperwork are able to get estimated timelines from the approval bodies.
My frustrations with Colin keep on getting worse. He really does appear clueless at the best of times. He went into good faith with the DHSC and upscaled the company without any sort of reassurance. Stupidity at best. He's put all his eggs all in one basket and got his fingers burnt. The only positive from the past 2 years is £750,000 contract with DAM for a world beating/ leading test. Jeez.
The gov have been playing games as always. Not paying ABDX, NCYT and now wanting money back from ODX.
If we were called innova, contracts given out without any opposition nor clawbacks (despite their threat to human health as per the FDA)
Also the price of the delay to the approval has been factored in yesterdays SP
@tricky the link isn't on their RNS. Not to worry will keep on searching.
Classic bureaucracy from the government. To put a positive spin it ends up being the survival of the fittest
@tricky I can't find this approved list. Do you have the link please?
@asher7. After your message I just realised how similar both user accounts are. Interesting
@HarveyF
"Unless we can show the world that the USP is that western tests work and Chinese ones don't, then why will the world pay more?"
Well the chinese tests (more so innova) have shown that they don't work properly yet they were still used by the UK under EUA despite the USA recalling it. If it was just about China cornering the market, there wouldn't be lots of competitor companies that make LFT across the globe.
For LFT there definitely was a bigger demand than supply. When it comes to economics, having a monopoly over the market can actually induce competitors to surface, creating innovation, competition and pushing down prices further. Covid has helped the globe realise how reliant we are on China for goods therefore there has been a boost to create and use goods that have been produced in their home country. Which is why the UK gov wants to use British innovative tests (well they say that but do something else)
However in the likelihood of corruption the economics theories get thrown out of the window as they stop making sense.
On reflection Colin has missed a big part of the covid wave when other companies sold vast quantities instead of laying in bed solely with the DHSC.
First it was the antibody CE mark
Then it was CE mark with professional testing
Then it was CE mark with self testing which now comes across as the holy grail.
However if we have a world beating covid test which is CE marked for professional use, where are the contracts? Clearly no one else knows its world beating / the best on the market or wants it as there are vast numbers of competitors around now.
Even the antibody consortium with ABDX has gone to sleep despite all the 'international interest'.
Where are the private sales for the antigen test outside the DHSC? Colin is putting all the eggs in the DHSC basket clearly.
Why would you stock pile antigen tests when as a business it creates no revenue? Lets say CE for self testing takes months and then does not get approved. What then? What's the back up?
It's been 4 months since the DHSC has introduced ODX to 3rd parties with "positive discussions" yet there are no updates despite contacting Walbrook. Its not that hard to complete deals especially with this length of time already gone. Covid has been around for 2 years yet despite all the waves there haven't been any positive outcomes.
ODX have royally missed the boat on many occasions. I fear that covid will be the norm yet Colin will be waiting taking us down with him like the Titanic.
This company has a lack of urgency and a lack of proactiveness.
Mr India. Investing anywhere requires one thing. Patience! Yes opportunities are lost elsewhere but that's with the benefit of hindsight.
If you want quicker gains (and potentially higher risks) then you need to trade instead of investing.
You're right dsaf. Just can't understand what the gov are doing to be honest. Their lack of forward thinking and planning is clearly showing.
https ://inews.co.uk/news/government-124-million-contract-home-antibody-test-kits-vaccine-uptake-low-young-1129382
'The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has signed a two-year contract worth £124.4 million with blood test start-up Thriva to deliver home Covid antibody tests.'
Yet the test by the antibody consortium gets passed up. Let's hope this isn't a fast track application by someone with contacts with a Tory crony.