EXCLUSIVE: Government inaction blocking private hospital vaccine purchase despite Prayut promise

[webfact]

 

By Cod Satrusayang

 

Despite promises made by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, government hurdles and red-tape have made it impossible for private hospitals to acquire vaccines on their own despite having the agency and connections to make it happen.

 

Thailand is currently fighting its most severe wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with infection rates climbing into the quadruple digits and the death toll mounting.

 

Among the major criticisms aimed at the government from political opponents and erstwhile allies is the current national vaccination plan which has lagged behind other countries.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/26891/exclusive-government-inaction-blocking-private-hospital-vaccine-purchase-despite-prayut-promise/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Inquirer 2021-04-28

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[rickthailand]

unbelievable

[ThailandRyan]

"As Czar I have spoken and we will take only the action I deem relevant to ensuring the spread of Covid is controlled", sorry hospitals your not an important part of this control measure it appears.

 

Comments and statements may or may not be fictitious in nature. 

[wasabi]

I've had enough of this circus. My wife and I are getting a Covid test this Sunday. If negative we will be back in the USA shortly after. Still love Thailand and Thai people. Their Covid response, not so much. 

[Phuketshrew]

A "Prayut promise" ???? Worth diddly squat.

[ChipButty]

Amazing Thailand

[pattjock]

So foreigners here will not be able to get a vaccination ???

[pattjock]

There seems to be zero planing regarding anything covid. Things change everyday without warning. Koh Chang to close for 3 weeks on Monday, on Tuesday it's open again. No forward planing what so ever.

[mtls2005]

I think the regime is reluctant to give up control of the vaccination process.

 

They probably fear a run on the hospitals, and the bad-look of inequity for people who can buy a "good" vaccine.

 

The regime is negotiating directly with Pfizer, and shutting out everyone else (private heath care) in Thailand.

 

The regime needs to first come up with a reasonable plan, and then communicate that plan to the public. The current strategy of keeping the public confused is simply not working.

 

Even the local production of AZ is muddled. Is that for Thailand? Or for export?

 

Sorry to say, but Anutin needs to be side-lined.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2021 by mtls2005

[statman78]

It’s great to see the truth come out.  Does anyone believe that 50 million people will be vaccinated by the end of the year as the PM promised?

 

That is 100 million doses.  According to recent reports the Pfizer vaccine has not been ordered and delivery date not agreed to.  The Russian vaccine is the same.  The AstraZeneca vaccine production is set to start here in Thailand in June.  I spent 30 years supporting production start ups of consumer products around the world including Thailand.  I would be very rarely did production start on time.  I would be very surprised if happens in June.

[ChipButty]

Somebody needs to light a fire under their a$$

[bdenner]

In another news thread "Prayut" is reported to have taken over all the covid related portfolios.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215251-pm-appointed-thailand’s-“covid-czar”-in-sole-charge-of-handling-the-pandemic/ 

 

So this BS lands squarely on his shoulders!

 

[darksidedog]

Incompetence and inaction are the norm here, so this should come as no surprise.

[Orac]

Something doesn’t sound quite right about this story. The  WHO has no remit or authority to put legal barriers in place to require governments to authorise purchases of vaccine - only national governments can put these requirements in place for exports or for authorising use domestically.

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, bdenner said:

In another news thread "Prayut" is reported to have taken over all the covid related portfolios.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1215251-pm-appointed-thailand’s-“covid-czar”-in-sole-charge-of-handling-the-pandemic/ 

 

So this BS lands squarely on his shoulders!

 

He has now become the revered one, the great unifier of the Covid and the savior of the country.  This man is completely delusional and his head in a fog where he communicates with the dead general Prem for advice, but only hears the voice in his head telling him he is so perfect in every way and he walks on water.  Unfortunately, the thai people I do know think he is a buffoon, but know they can do nothing short of another coup to remove me as he stacked the deck in his favor.  He definitely looks up to his big brother President Xi of China and emulates him in every way. Where has Pwait been toddled of to.  Been a month since anyone has heard or seen him.  I hope he is not ill with Covid and being treated privately in order to keep a lid on it.  Sad times we are currently living in.  Staying Isolated myself except for runs to Makro to re-stock.

[Excel]

Well ask yourselves this:-  do you think the approval delays and red tape is due to the normal Thai bureaucratic process and would occur at any other times, or could it be a deliberate and concerted effort by the PM and his controller to ensure vaccines will only be purchased from an internal source ? Not withstanding the moral issues should that latter option be the case but like all monopolies here, or pseudo monopolies afforded to the very few,  this brings inflated costs that would fill the trough significantly further, to the detriment of course to the other 99% of the Thai nation.

Edited April 28, 2021 by Excel

[Rhacsyn]

Reading the headline of this post and then reading below from 8 days ago put a big smile on my face. (I hope I am allowed to link here from the Nation paper. If not sorry...).

 

As an aside, and as far as I remember, other than the Chinese, only AZ, JJ, Moderna and Sputnik have applied for registration in Thailand. Has Pfizer applied yet?

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000021

[Excel]

12 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Somebody needs to light a fire under their a$$

and others

[smedly]

2 minutes ago, Orac said:

Something doesn’t sound quite right about this story.

 

You could pretty much say that about everything reported these last 3 months

 

There is something rotten about all of it

[smedly]

13 minutes ago, Excel said:

Well ask yourselves this:-  do you think the approval delays and red tape is due to the normal Thai bureaucratic process and would occur at any other times, or could it be a deliberate and concerted effort by the PM and his controller to ensure vaccines will only be purchased from an internal source ? Not withstanding the moral issues should that latter option be the case but like all monopolies here, or pseudo monopolies afforded to the very few,  this brings inflated costs that would fill the trough significantly further, to the detriment of course to the other 99% of the Thai nation.

 

I said this a week ago and I believe you are right

 

They are more interested at working schemes to fill their own pockets than doing what is right for the country and people, the people are at boiling point right now - I have never heard so much negative sentiment and rumblings and anger than there is right now, my guess is that this bunch of cronies will be removed very soon one way or another 

 

Money Number 1

Edited April 28, 2021 by smedly

[internationalism]

so it's the 3rd time they are being obstructed from import.

Would they try anymore?

And they wanted to bring in large quantities, sinovac first batch 1mln and later another 9mln. That's for the whole group of private hospitals, but still it's a large quantity.

As if the government is trying to push them into buying AZ from the domestic production

 

[pseudorabies]

41 minutes ago, wasabi said:

I've had enough of this circus. My wife and I are getting a Covid test this Sunday. If negative we will be back in the USA shortly after. Still love Thailand and Thai people. Their Covid response, not so much. 

I've been considering doing the same especially now that the single dose JnJ vaccine is again available.  It would be great if Thailand would set up a special re-entry process for Thais and expats living in Thailand who travel abroad just to get vaccinated but, like private hospitals administering vaccines, I don't think the government wants this to happen.

[Excel]

Just now, smedly said:

 

I said this a week ago and I believe you are right

 

They are more interested at working schemes to fill their own pockets than doing what is right for the country and people, the people are at boiling point right now - I have never heard some much negative sentiment and rumblings and anger from people than there is right now, my guess is that this bunch of cronies will be removed very soon one way or another 

 

Money Number 1

The problem is like rats:- removing one type of vermin usually allows another group to take its place and there is usually one or two, try as you might are illusive. Isn't it ironic that the term for a group of rats is a "mischief"

[Fromas]

Just tremendously surprised by this news. ????

[sandyf]

55 minutes ago, rickthailand said:

unbelievable

What is unbelievable is that no hospital has said which vaccine is readily available or from where.

There is a bit more to it than a bit of wheeling and dealing.

From the OP

"We know the market and have the contacts to make the vaccine imports happen"

[Shuya]

The worst government ever in the biggest crisis ever. Time to shut the company and leave. 

[JackGats]

55 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I think the regime is reluctant to give up control of the vaccination process.

 

They probably fear a run on the hospitals, and the bad-look of inequity for people who can buy a "good" vaccine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMO the dilly dallying makes sense if you look at who was earmarked  to manufacture Thailand's chosen Covid vaccine (AstraZeneca).  Alternative sourcing is seen as interfering.

[Brierley]

By Cod Satrusayang

 

It doesn't seem right, there's something fishy about this.

[Jeffr2]

What do you expect from a bunch of unelected military figures trying to run a country.  Not to mention most of the ministers are there because of connections or wealth.  Not because of experience or expertise.  Anutin is a great example.

[Amdesign]

4 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

What do you expect from a bunch of unelected military figures trying to run a country.  Not to mention most of the ministers are there because of connections or wealth.  Not because of experience or expertise.  Anutin is a great example.

They are not military, too... Never participated in any warfare. Parquet generals only capable to manage parades and intrigues.

Edited April 28, 2021 by Amdesign