Signs of Irregularity' in Public Health Ministry Projects

Dr. Banlu Siripanich, former permanent secretary of the ministry, who heads the inquiry panel, told a news conference that the documentary evidence and witness testimony showed a high probability that politicians and senior ministry officials had been involved in unusual procurement of medical equipment under the 86 billion baht Thai Khemkhaeng (Strong Thailand) stimulus package.

The panel’s 4,733 pages of findings were handed to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva before the press briefing.

Dr. Banlu said the funding was mobilised to build facilities and buy medical equipment and also focused on urban areas instead of rural areas. The budget allocations for hospital construction were skewed in favour of some politicians' selected constituencies.

Ratchaburi, cited as an example, has three provincial-level hospitals and one regional hospital already while several provinces have only one hospital. Ratchaburi is deputy health minister Manit Nop-amornbodi's political stronghold, and he is the province's member of parliament.

Several procurement schemes for medical supplies were found to be not only overpriced but unnecessary, he said.

Dr. Banlu said loopholes were possible because present and former public-health bureaucrats had failed to ensure transparency.The government budget was used inefficiently because of the negligence of senior ministry officials. The former permanent secretary said Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai could not avoid responsibility over these management flaws.

Meanwhile, Mr. Manit, who has no involvement in the scheme, intervened to seek too high an allocation of funds to his constituency by exerting pressure on bureaucrats and is believed likely to be involved in the irregularities in an ambulance purchase project which was found to be overpriced.

Dr. Banlu said the inquiry panel had advised the government to review the ministry's plan, further investigation of all involved government officials, both those who still working and retirees. Politicians involved in the corruption should face action under the nine strict rules Mr. Abhisit announced when he took office on how his ministers should conduct themselves.