Coronavirus: We can't dish out lots of masks out for free, but they are under cost price, say govt

[rooster59]

Coronavirus: We can't dish out lots of masks out for free, but they are under cost price, say govt

 

Image: Naew Na

 

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's office said that people who want a lot of masks to protect against the coronavirus will have to pay for them. 

 

But the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation is making them cheaper than cost price.

 

Dr Narumon Pinyosinnawat went on Facebook to say that plenty of masks will be available today at the knock down price of ten for 25 baht or 2.50 baht each. 

 

That is below the cost of production and delivery, she said. 

 

She said that there were plenty of places where masks were still being handed out free but these were limited to one or two per person. 

 

If people wanted more they would have to pay for them, at this very reasonable price. 

 

Source: Naew Na

 

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[spiekerjozef]

Is the anti-virus cure also gonna be below cost price?

[FarFlungFalang]

To keep Anutin happy they need to provide access to 66 million masks every hour.Good luck with that! 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

What the above report doesn't mention is the govt. is only handing out and/or selling the cheap drugstore variety of paper masks, which have limited effectiveness in blocking the wearer from breathing in any virus materials, because they're not airtight on the face.

 

The govt. is NOT handing out or selling any N95 respirator masks, which would be more effective although not 100%.  The N95 masks here usually run at least 35b or so apiece on the low end, up to 150b or more right now in this time of excess demand.

 

[timendres]

7 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

What the above report doesn't mention is the govt. is only handing out and/or selling the cheap drugstore variety of paper masks, which have limited effectiveness in blocking the wearer from breathing in any virus materials, because they're not airtight on the face.

But they do help in preventing the spread of this virus from infected people. And since you can be infectious for days before showing any symptoms, there is some logic to wearing one of these masks even if you do not feel you are sick.

[Beggar]

"Dr Narumon Pinyosinnawat went on Facebook to say that plenty of masks will be available today at the knock down price of ten for 25 baht or 2.50 baht each."

 

Where will they be available - in her drawer? How about other places in Thailand? Where can the people get them? 

[GeorgeCross]

remind me again how much they spent on submarines?

 

and what would be a better investment?

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

14 minutes ago, Beggar said:

"Dr Narumon Pinyosinnawat went on Facebook to say that plenty of masks will be available today at the knock down price of ten for 25 baht or 2.50 baht each."

 

Where will they be available - in her drawer? How about other places in Thailand? Where can the people get them? 

 

Government sponsored "Blue Flag" stores supposedly... not clear if that's only for Thai people and low income ones in particular, or everyone... including us mask-refusing farangs as well... 

[monkfish]

I read yesterday the normal price is 0.55B each

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/02/07/govt-defends-selling-face-masks-to-public/

[Beggar]

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Government sponsored "Blue Flag" stores supposedly... not clear if that's only for Thai people and low income ones in particular, or everyone... including us mask-refusing farangs as well... 

What are these "Blue Flag" stores and are there any in Pattaya? 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Dr Narumon Pinyosinnawat

 

Kind of bizarre... Now some of the Thai media reporting on the CV issue have started referring to Narumon as "Dr.", which might lead the unknowing to think she's some kind of medical doctor sharing her expertise on such matters...  (Don't think the Thai media have generally referred to her as "Dr." in the past in her role as government spokeswoman.)

 

When in fact, she has nothing to do with medicine whatsoever, and instead seems to have master's and doctoral degrees in finance and economics from the Wharton School at the Univ. of Penn. in the U.S., in addition to previously having been a PPP party-list MP.

 

http://mba.nida.ac.th/en/committee-history/20171023063705

 

But I guess adding in the "Dr." part in such CV stories at least sounds good...

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

13 minutes ago, Beggar said:

What are these "Blue Flag" stores and are there any in Pattaya? 

 It's a ongoing deal run thru the Commerce Department, and I believe usually involves smaller markets instead of the big chains. No idea about finding a list of them in EN, much less Thai.

[ParkerN]

I bet everyone in the government got theirs for free.

[bangkokfrog]

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

We can't dish out lots of masks out for free...

Could this be because there is little room for a middleman to profit if these "essential preventative devices" (depending WHO you ask) are distributed for free?

[saengd]

9 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Kind of bizarre... Now some of the Thai media reporting on the CV issue have started referring to Narumon as "Dr.", which might lead the unknowing to think she's some kind of medical doctor sharing her expertise on such matters...  (Don't think the Thai media have generally referred to her as "Dr." in the past in her role as government spokeswoman.)

 

When in fact, she has nothing to do with medicine whatsoever, and instead seems to have master's and doctoral degrees in finance and economics from the Wharton School at the Univ. of Penn. in the U.S., in addition to previously having been a PPP party-list MP.

 

http://mba.nida.ac.th/en/committee-history/20171023063705

 

But I guess adding in the "Dr." part in such CV stories at least sounds good...

Anyone who has earned a doctorate is entitled to be called Doctor, it's a sign of respect and recognition of their accomplishment, it doesn't just apply to medical doctors alone.

[Artisi]

10 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

remind me again how much they spent on submarines?

 

and what would be a better investment?

 

Submarines, definitely - the children need their toys. 

[sungod]

A week ago told not to worry about it, no need for face masks.

 

Suddenly the ministry of health gets a truck load, says everyone should be wearing one and sells for 5 times the price hmmmmmmmm?

 

When you consider its only Chinese tourists or Thais in contact with Chinese tourists who are infected then one would think there may be a more obvious solution.

[Artisi]

10 hours ago, ParkerN said:

 

 

 

10 hours ago, ParkerN said:

I bet everyone in the government got theirs for free

The problem being the majority don't have the smarts to either wear or use them properly - starting with superman cha-cha and his underlings. 

[Artisi]

17 minutes ago, saengd said:

Anyone who has earned a doctorate is entitled to be called Doctor, it's a sign of respect and recognition of their accomplishment, it doesn't just apply to medical doctors alone.

Did you miss the point being raised? 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, saengd said:

Anyone who has earned a doctorate is entitled to be called Doctor, it's a sign of respect and recognition of their accomplishment, it doesn't just apply to medical doctors alone.

 

I'm well aware of that, having a university professor in the family and having worked at universities in the past.

 

But in general, people who are PhDs don't go around in non academic circles (such as government spokeswoman jobs), being referred to as "Dr."  And especially since never before had she been referred to as "Dr." in her government position, AFAIK, until the coronavirus story came along.

 

BTW, likewise, I've also never seen her referred to in her government position in the past as "professor," which would have been an equally appropriate academic term that doesn't have the confusion with the medical community term.

 

 

[Dap]

"We can't dish out lots of masks out for free, but they are under cost price, say govt"

But we do have another submarine on order.

[Sydebolle]

Put one of the three submarines on Ebay or Lazada; once sold cheap you have more than plenty of cash for 10'000 masks - per Thai citizen that is. 

Farang can be charged the usual "sapecian" price of THB 495, buy three for THB 1'500 ???? 

[Artisi]

19 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I'm well aware of that, having a university professor in the family and having worked at universities in the past.

 

But in general, people who are PhDs don't go around in non academic circles (such as government spokeswoman jobs), being referred to as "Dr."  And especially since never before had she been referred to as "Dr." in her government position, AFAIK, until the coronavirus story came along.

 

BTW, likewise, I've also never seen her referred to in her government position in the past as "professor," which would have been an equally appropriate academic term that doesn't have the confusion with the medical community term.

 

 

PhD doesn't necessarily equate to professor. 

[Ireland32]

But stop Chinese Flts coming in , Nonsense, Morons 

[Yadon Toploy]

On 2/9/2020 at 11:56 AM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

But in general, people who are PhDs don't go around in non academic circles (such as government spokeswoman jobs), being referred to as "Dr."

I know of a Minister with a PhD from California University that does.

[saengd]

On 2/9/2020 at 7:35 AM, Artisi said:

Did you miss the point being raised? 

The issue in the OP is cost and distribution of face masks and the good Doctors field of specialism is finance and economics, she seems like an appropriately qualified individual to discuss those things. Had the subject been the efficiency of face masks, guidance on how to use them or any other aspect of face masks that pertained to health I might agree that a medically qualified doctor would be best suited. But as it was the issue was cost, not health, for that reason a finance person is the right spokesperson....yes?

[Thian]

On 2/8/2020 at 8:37 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The govt. is NOT handing out or selling any N95 respirator masks, which would be more effective although not 100%.  The N95 masks here usually run at least 35b or so apiece on the low end, up to 150b or more right now in this time of excess demand.

 

The N95 also help against the pollution, we are in code red every day in bkk.

 

I read that in china nobody is allowed to wear N95 masks anymore, they are all for the doctors and nurses from now on.

 

But the Thai government could at least make sure we can buy N95 masks here in BKK...i don't have many left and would like to have a new one every day since we have to wear them from Anunit...no Thai wears a mask around here in the subs.

 

The Thai government is only busy with looking good, in fact they do nothing at all, even making it worse by letting more chinese in.