The Plateau State Specialist Hospital has commenced the opening of bids for the procurement of critical medical and office equipment, as part of efforts to upgrade healthcare services in the state.

A total of 17 companies submitted tender bids, which were officially opened on Tuesday at the hospital’s boardroom, following an earlier public invitation to reputable and registered contractors.

The procurement exercise covers multiple categories of equipment, including dental, physiotherapy, orthopedic instruments and implants, theatre and surgical equipment, ophthalmology tools, hearing test devices for both adults and children, urological equipment, as well as office equipment. The items are grouped into various lots to allow contractors bid based on their areas of specialization.

Speaking during the bid opening, the Chief Medical Director, Christopher Yilgwan, emphasized the commitment of the Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang administration to transparency and accountability in governance.

He noted that the open bidding process reflects the government’s “open door and open book policy,” aimed at building public trust and ensuring that citizens are actively engaged in governance processes.

According to him, “When people scrutinize what we do, it keeps us on our toes and helps us to deliver better outcomes. This process is designed to ensure that the people of Plateau State get the best in terms of healthcare services and equipment.”

Yilgwan dismissed concerns that the process might be a mere formality, assuring stakeholders that all submissions would undergo a rigorous technical evaluation by qualified professionals, including end-users of the equipment.

He added that the hospital places a high premium on adherence to global standards, noting that outdated equipment—some of which have been in use for decades—necessitated the current procurement drive.

Following the bid opening, the next phase will involve a detailed technical evaluation of all submissions by a specialized committee, after which recommendations will be made for contract awards.

Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics and Chairman of the Bid Opening Committee, Jonathan Bulus, highlighted that the transparent process was designed to promote fairness, accountability, and healthy competition among bidders.

Observers at the event commended the openness of the exercise. Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Health in Plateau State, Christopher Damcher, described the process as encouraging and capable of preventing disputes if sustained through subsequent stages.

A representative of one of the bidding firms, Gondys Simon, also expressed confidence in the process, noting that transparency would ensure that only competent contractors are selected and that the hospital ultimately benefits from quality supplies.

The procurement process is expected to proceed with pre-qualification and further evaluations, as part of broader efforts by the Plateau State Government to strengthen the healthcare sector and improve service delivery across the state.