Financial Directorate Raised Concerns of Overpricing in Ebáis Contracts to CCSS Board
CCSS's Financial Directorate highlighted overpricing in bids a month before contracts were awarded; session details unrecorded by decision of executive president.
The Financial Directorate of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) alerted the Board of Directors and management of the institution about detected overpricing in bids for the administration of 138 Ebáis by four cooperatives and a medical association.
This disclosure, made during a workshop a month before the contract awards, took place without a recorded session, as mandated by then-executive president, Marta Esquivel Rodríguez.
The account of these events was provided by Andrey Sánchez Duarte, financial director of CCSS, to the Public Ministry.
His report is part of a search warrant issued by the Criminal Court of Finance and the Public Function against Marta Esquivel on September 18, 2024, in relation to the ongoing investigations of the Barrenador case.
On June 4, 2024, Esquivel convened a workshop titled 'Cooperatives Theme,' attended by Board members and representatives from various departments, including Medical, Financial, Logistics, and Legal.
During this session, Sánchez presented the technical report findings and addressed inquiries from Board members, as documented.
Despite Sánchez's request for session recording, it was not authorized on the grounds of informality, as noted by trade union representative Martha Rodríguez González.
During a legislative committee hearing, investigating potential irregularities at CCSS, Sánchez reiterated the occurrence of the workshop.
He confirmed presenting an analysis that flagged overpricing, estimated to cost ₡12.4 billion annually.
However, no formal record was kept, leading to questions directed to the Board's Secretariat.
Subsequently, on July 6, despite preliminary warnings, the contracts for managing Ebáis and ten healthcare areas were awarded for ten years to Coopesana, Coopesalud, Coopesiba, Coopesaín, and Asemeco cooperatives.
This decision followed a unanimous board vote informed by an alternative report from María de los Ángeles Gutiérrez Brenes, Health Services Projection Director at CCSS.
The investigation further examines the propriety of both the financial assessments and the subsequent decision-making process, including whether the financial feasibility study was considered in Gutiérrez's report—something Sánchez asserted it did not include.
Procedurally, on June 22, an expert team was convened to explore potential adjudication scenarios, consisting of various departmental heads and advisers, including the largely absent Cost Accounting Area.
On July 3, Gutiérrez presented the Board with her report—leading to the contentious contract approval the following day.
Gutiérrez independently recommended full project adjudication.
This case involves Marta Esquivel, María de los Ángeles Gutiérrez, and other implicated board members, who are facing scrutiny for their roles in the contract award process.
This disclosure, made during a workshop a month before the contract awards, took place without a recorded session, as mandated by then-executive president, Marta Esquivel Rodríguez.
The account of these events was provided by Andrey Sánchez Duarte, financial director of CCSS, to the Public Ministry.
His report is part of a search warrant issued by the Criminal Court of Finance and the Public Function against Marta Esquivel on September 18, 2024, in relation to the ongoing investigations of the Barrenador case.
On June 4, 2024, Esquivel convened a workshop titled 'Cooperatives Theme,' attended by Board members and representatives from various departments, including Medical, Financial, Logistics, and Legal.
During this session, Sánchez presented the technical report findings and addressed inquiries from Board members, as documented.
Despite Sánchez's request for session recording, it was not authorized on the grounds of informality, as noted by trade union representative Martha Rodríguez González.
During a legislative committee hearing, investigating potential irregularities at CCSS, Sánchez reiterated the occurrence of the workshop.
He confirmed presenting an analysis that flagged overpricing, estimated to cost ₡12.4 billion annually.
However, no formal record was kept, leading to questions directed to the Board's Secretariat.
Subsequently, on July 6, despite preliminary warnings, the contracts for managing Ebáis and ten healthcare areas were awarded for ten years to Coopesana, Coopesalud, Coopesiba, Coopesaín, and Asemeco cooperatives.
This decision followed a unanimous board vote informed by an alternative report from María de los Ángeles Gutiérrez Brenes, Health Services Projection Director at CCSS.
The investigation further examines the propriety of both the financial assessments and the subsequent decision-making process, including whether the financial feasibility study was considered in Gutiérrez's report—something Sánchez asserted it did not include.
Procedurally, on June 22, an expert team was convened to explore potential adjudication scenarios, consisting of various departmental heads and advisers, including the largely absent Cost Accounting Area.
On July 3, Gutiérrez presented the Board with her report—leading to the contentious contract approval the following day.
Gutiérrez independently recommended full project adjudication.
This case involves Marta Esquivel, María de los Ángeles Gutiérrez, and other implicated board members, who are facing scrutiny for their roles in the contract award process.
