Omar Medical CEO, Chicago Officials Disagree Over Sale of PPE Equipment

As previously reported, the founder of an Illinois-based medical supply company said he tried to sell more than 1 million pieces of PPE to the state but was rebuffed.

According to The Grio, Dr. Willie Wilson, founder and CEO of Illinois-based Omar Medical Supplies, tried to reach a deal to sell PPE to the state but was denied by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Instead, Gov. Pritzker paid nearly $1.8 million to retrieve PPE from China for the state in addition to paying about $17 million on PPE itself.

Wilson, who is also running for a senate seat in the state, said he hit roadblocks when trying to set up a deal with the politicians. However, Gov. Pritzker blamed the situation on Wilson.

Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokeswoman for Gov. Pritzker, claims Wilson wanted “an open purchase order, with no specific pricing set,” adding “the state does not enter into open purchase orders.”

Wilson said the open order was necessary.

According to Wilson, he expressed his desire to help and his staff explained the process of purchasing PPE  to Gov. Pritzker’s office. If the order from the state was a one-time order, all Wilson’s company would need was one purchase order.

Wilson added if the state needed more than one PPE order, Omar Medical Supplies would need an open purchase order to secure additional PPE for several months. If not, the company would run the risk of not being able to secure the PPE.

“I believe it was a misunderstanding in how business is transacted in China at this critical time,” Wilson said. “As for pricing, we are very clear on pricing per order. However, the price could fluctuate over time due to the emergency nature of the pandemic and availability of materials to make (the) product.”

Mayor Lightfoot also blamed Wilson, saying he requested a cash payment upfront. Wilson also denied this claim saying pricing was never discussed.

“That you would misrepresent my statements to you on this issue so blatantly and dishonestly is not only disturbing, it is, in light of our current public health crisis, profoundly disheartening,” Wilson wrote in a letter to Mayor Lightfoot.

According to the Illinois State Comptroller, the state spent nearly $180 million on COVID-19-related purchases, including ventilators and PPE, through April 21.

Although Wilson couldn’t secure a deal with the state, Omar Medical Supplies is still doing its part to help. After Gov. Pritzker made it mandatory for all citizens to wear face masks beginning May 1, Omar Medical Supplies donated 20,000 masks each to 50 Chicago alderman.

Face masks are paramount to keeping the coronavirus at bay. According to researchers, the virus lingers in the air of crowded spaces. Additionally, the virus has significantly affected African Americans.