On Friday, Oct 4, the Vancouver Sun reported (Cash still flowing despite scandal, pg A4) on a healthcare tech company which, despite being investigated for fraud and influence peddling, is still being paid $320K a year by four regional health authorities.
You've got to love this set-up. The president of the company selling the technology was also a consultant to the province's eHealth program. How sweet a deal is that? Just a tiny bit of conflict-of-interest, wouldn't you say? Also, RCMP alleged that the president, Dr. Jonathan Burns, 1) double-billed the BC Ministry of Health a few years ago, and 2) offered favours to a former health minister responsible for the eHealth project budget, who is also under investigation.
The kickbacks involve the minister's entire family as Burns reportedly hired the minister's wife and daughter in addition to offering the family condos and travel. In return, the minister supposedly raised Burn's hourly consulting rate to $195. The minister and his wife, also a government employee, have retired, but both their children are stil government employees. If that isn't the cherry on top of this whole story.
And this guy is still getting paid by the government? To say that "consultants" like Dr. Burns give all consultants a bad name is an understatement. When the accusations are of criminal behaviour and considered news-worthy, the damage to other healthcare consultants is severe. Never would I want to be put or even considered in the same group as this ass. Allegations like this are far too common in the public service and make honest, hard-working consutlants with integrity like me sick to their stomachs.
Wouldn't a simple background check have revealed Burns' conflict of interest and prevented a contract award from the start?
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