THE First Minister has been urged to probe an ongoing NHS contract with a firm whose parent company is linked to illegal Israeli settlements.
Breas Medical Ltd is named as a supplier on a national NHS Scotland framework for oxygen and sleep-therapy equipment which was awarded in December 2024, and is worth up to £21.2 million.
But Breas is ultimately owned through Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical by the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International – which appears in the UN Human Rights Office’s latest database of companies involved in specified activities connected to illegal Israeli settlements.
According to that database, Fosun is involved in the “use of natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes”.
An Al Jazeera investigation also recently made clear the wider connection between Breas, Fosun and UK public contracts.
A year ago, Scotland became the first country in the world to back Palestinian civil society’s calls for a range of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) measures against the state of Israel amid the genocide in Gaza.
But despite backing that motion, SNP ministers have been accused of failing to take the action needed to put it into practice – notably after confirming that Barclays was one of nine banks chosen to support a £1.5 billion issuance of bonds.
It also comes as the Scottish Government claimed earlier this month that no companies named in the UN database hold Scottish Government contracts.
However, the answer from SNP minister Ivan McKee added: “The search was based on matching the company names recorded on PCS with those appearing exactly as listed in the UN database”.
The Scottish Greens are claiming that this is a loophole in the Israel boycott first announced by Swinney in September last year.
"Any company that is profiting from exploiting the occupied territories is fuelling and enabling the repression and abuse of Palestinians,” Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said.
She added that the Scottish Government “must urgently investigate” these findings, end the contract as soon as possible and “ensure that similar scrutiny is given to every company holding contracts”.
"Last week's Green debate showed that there is still a big gap between the Scottish Government’s rhetoric and what MSPs voted for when it comes to BDS,” Mackay added.
"This can't be a boycott in name only, it needs to be watertight and robust and ensure that we are standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine in word and deed."
A Breas Medical spokesperson said: “Breas Medical is a global respiratory technology company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, with European manufacturing operations based in Sweden and the UK. For more than 35 years, we have focused exclusively on supporting patients with chronic respiratory conditions through innovative ventilation and respiratory support technologies.
“Breas UK’s participation in the NHS Scotland framework relates solely to the supply and support of our technologies for patient care. The issues raised are not related to the activities or operations of Breas UK or the broader Breas organisation. Breas Medical is not involved in the management or operation of our parent company or its affiliates.
“As always, our priority remains supporting patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare providers through the provision of safe, effective, and reliable technologies that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.”
Fosun International and the Scottish Government have been approached for comment.
