Hungary ventilator procurement scandal involves reclassified medical equipment

Investigations into ventilator procurements conducted by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed significant quality issues and alleged administrative misconduct. Parliamentary State Secretary György László Velkey reported that out of 16,583 purchased ventilators, 7,874 were initially classified by military doctors into categories 'B' (usable with serious compromises but not recommended) and 'C' (not recommended for use at all).

Documents suggest that these classifications were later arbitrarily altered within the Ministry. Machines deemed unsuitable or problematic were reclassified as 'good,' allowing them to be distributed to hospitals and social institutions. Technical flaws reported included malfunctioning air volume controls and loose components, which posed potential life-threatening risks to patients.

A formal report has been filed by the Ministry regarding these procurement processes, which involved approximately 300 billion forints in spending.