Scandal with swabs in Ezeiza: a biochemist denounces that his signature was used in the tests

04/29/2021 8:57 PM

• Clarín.com

• Politics

Updated 04/29/2021 9:09 PM

A journalistic investigation revealed that the coronavirus tests at the Ezeiza airport for tourists arriving in the country are handled by

a company with no background in clinical studies

.

To this was added that this Thursday his former medical director denounced that

his digital signature - name and registration - was used

 for the studies.

The opposition asked the government for answers.

The national deputies Luis Petri, Alfredo Cornejo and Graciela Ocaña presented a request for access to public information and a request for reports in the Chamber of Deputies for alleged irregularities in the company that carries out the swabs in Ezeiza.

The company in question is called

Labpax

, a firm that does not have a history in clinical analysis and whose owners are two monotributistas who are registered in the lowest category.

According to the investigation of the newspaper La Nación, said laboratory appears in the name of Paola Perillo Orellana, who is registered in the lowest category, with a turnover of $ 18,000 per month;

and Laura Cáceres, who can bill up to $ 34,700 every 30 days.

Today, all Argentines who arrive in Ezeiza must have a quick swab that has a value of

$ 2,500

.

That is why the calculation is that the company that a few months ago did not exist, today generates

at least five million pesos per day

. 

At the same time, all the results of the swabs given to travelers arriving in Argentina

include the signature of Jorge Chizzolini

, a biochemist.

The man claims that his

name and license plate were used

when he no longer had any relationship with the company.

Chizzolini says that he stopped working on March 31 for the laboratory, although his digital signature still appears.

From Airports Argentina 2000, they indicated that an audit was started "in view of the questions about the quality and suitability of the PCR and antigen tests that LabPax has been carrying out in Ezeiza."

And they added that if necessary, the termination of the agreement with the firm will be resolved "immediately".

After the scandal, opposition deputies came out to ask for explanations.

"Together with @luispetri and @gracielaocana, after the publication of a journalistic note, we made a request for access to public information and reports to the Chamber of Deputies to know in detail the contract of the company that performs the tests in Ezeiza" wrote the former governor of Mendoza on his social networks.

Together with @luispetri and @gracielaocana, after the publication of a journalistic note, we made a request for access to public information and reports to the Chamber of Deputies to know in detail the contract of the company that performs the tests in Ezeiza.

pic.twitter.com/ZhCIadTDN0

- Alfredo Cornejo (@alfredocornejo) April 29, 2021

Meanwhile Petri questioned: "Why are the swabs not done by the Ministry of Health? Why were they outsourced to a company with no antecedents and that was created on December 1? Why does the State monopolize contracts for some things and in Does it allow private companies to do millionaire businesses? "

We presented with @alfredocornejo and @gracielaocana a request for information regarding the outsourcing of testing in Ezeiza.

Why did you hire a company created in December?

Why is a higher amount charged than the cost of the test?

Why doesn't the government make them?

pic.twitter.com/MataNodLth

- Luis Petri (@luispetri) April 29, 2021

The specific request is for Santiago Cafiero, Chief of the Nation's Cabinet, Carla Vizzotti, Minister of Health, and Gabriel Katopodis, Minister of Public Works, "to report verbally and in writing" on different issues that have to do with the hiring of this company: criteria and motivations that led to the outsourcing of this service, contracting modality, information on the contracted company and what type of test is carried out, among other details.

DD

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