Thai hospital tycoon who promised Pfizer vaccine says deal now unlikely

[snoop1130]

FILE PHOTO: Chairman of Thonburi Healthcare Group, Boon Vanasin, speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office in Bangkok, Thailand, July 6, 2021. REUTERS/Artorn Pookasook/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The chair of Thailand's Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG) said on Wednesday that a deal to import 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was unlikely to happen, despite his earlier claims that a deal was close.

 

Thailand is battling its biggest COVID-19 outbreak yet, and has been racing to secure vaccines. Last month, THG Chairman Boon Vanasin said talks to clinch a deal with BioNTech was nearing conclusion, but both Pfizer and BioNTench said they were not in talks with THG.

 

"Our problem is that we are unable to import it because it has to come through a government agency," Boon said during a televised interview with the MCOT television station on Wednesday. "I think we won't be able to do it," he added.

 

Boon did not say with which importer his group had been working. THG shares fell 8.13% on Wednesday along a benchmark decline of 0.35%.

 

Last month, BioNTech denied it was in talks with THG while a Pfizer spokesman said the company was only in discussions with Thailand's health ministry and disease control department.

 

Boon had previously said he was working to secure the vaccines indirectly, via an unnamed government agency.

 

Thailand has since late April been faced with a surge in COVID-19 infections, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

 

The Southeast Asian country's main vaccine rollout began in June and has depended mainly on Sinovac and locally manufactured AstraZeneca vaccines.

 

Just over 6% of Thailand's 66 million population been fully vaccinated so far. Delays in the government inoculation programme have been compounded than lower than expected local manufacturing capacity of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

 

The government has struck a deal for 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, due to arrive later this year, and says it has plans to purchase an additional 10 million doses.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-04

 

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[Thaiwrath]

He has all the credentials to be a Thai politician, and even Prime Minister.

Promising lots and coming up with very little (or nothing in this case) !

[ThailandRyan]

You know when somethings to good to be true when the devils in the details and only a governmental agency can order.

[scorecard]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

You know when somethings to good to be true when the devils in the details and only a governmental agency can order.

Why am I thinking he's pulled out because going through a gov't agency to buy the vaccines cancels/massively reduces his 'commission'?

 

So forget it.

[AwwYesNice1]

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Why am I thinking he's pulled out because going through a gov't agency to buy the vaccines cancels/massively reduces his 'commission'?

 

So forget it.

No it's the Gov agency taking the first cut of the action.

Money #1 in Thailand - you learn this as soon as you step off 

the international flight in Don Mueng Airport 25 years ago.

[Nojohndoe]

And perhaps just so hap that at the original announcement of proposed deal the share value of THG popped up. Now the deal is off the THG share value drops. Nobody would have taken advantage would they ????

[RotBenz8888]

It's better not to believe what a Thai "tycoon" promises in the first place. 

[mfd101]

Even in Thailand it is possible for reality to catch up with self-seeking promises.

[mtls2005]

Simply amazing that the regime hasn't sorted this out by now. 

 

This guy is trying to do right by the Thai people. Is he motivated by profit too? Of course, but at least he's open and honest about that.

 

The crazy bureaucracy here is leading to unnecessary deaths.

 

Does every hospital have to purchase drugs through government organizations? If so, use the same process. If not, just buy Pfizer or Moderna directly.

 

Oh the insanity.

 

 

 

 

 

25 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Even in Thailand it is possible for reality to catch up with self-seeking promises.

 

Is it though? Really?

 

Then why are the same people in power?

 

 

Sinopharm was approved, ordered and delivered in less than 10 days.

 

But oh no, Moderna and Pfizer needs to go through a rigorous, months-long process because, well somebody says so.

 

 

Sorry, but this is NUTS.

 

Get one of those Lopburi monkey gangs down to Government House, I'm sure they could do a better job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[zhounan]

Health should be a Public Good, not a tycoons' business.

 

[RotBenz8888]

Talking about tycoons... Ive never liked the Shinawatras, they're a bunch of charlatans. But I can't help wondering how they would've handled the pandemic, and in particular the vaccine. Anyone would probably have done it better than the current jokers in power. 

[Oww]

"No it's the Gov agency taking the first cut of the action." 

Spot on. 

[mtls2005]

17 minutes ago, zhounan said:

Health should be a Public Good, not a tycoons' business.

 

Sure, same-same for education, public safety, transportation. And everyone should get a pony too.

 

 

Not sure where you live, but here (Thailand) in the real world we have a bifurcated health care system, with strong, viable public and private branches. Private hospitals, operated for profit and subsidized by insurance, serve millions of Thai citizens.

 

 

 

 

[smedly]

1 hour ago, Thaiwrath said:

He has all the credentials to be a Thai politician, and even Prime Minister.

Promising lots and coming up with very little (or nothing in this case) !

he is obviously being blocked by the Health ministry which is rather stupid if you me - if he can buy vaccines then why not let him try, it's not as there is a shortage or anything like that - just stupid control freaks 

[smedly]

19 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Talking about tycoons... Ive never liked the Shinawatras, they're a bunch of charlatans. But I can't help wondering how they would've handled the pandemic, and in particular the vaccine. Anyone would probably have done it better than the current jokers in power. 

a class of 6 year olds would have done better 

[impulse]

52 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Sinopharm was approved, ordered and delivered in less than 10 days.

 

But oh no, Moderna and Pfizer needs to go through a rigorous, months-long process because, well somebody says so.

The name says it all.  Sino = no FCPA.

 

[mtls2005]

Can we agree that the goal is to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible?

 

50 mm people, 100 mm doses by 1/1/22

 

Let's not debate how we get to that goal, let's just do it.

 

If that means off-loading 25% to the private sector, let's just do it.

 

Why even debate this?

 

If people are willing to pay, then that saves the government/country money. And more free vaccines will be available for the rest of the people.

 

It's WIN-WIN-WIN.

 

Turn the hospitals loose. Now.

 

Who cares if they are more efficient, and make the regime look bad. This is about more than prayut's "feelings".

 

There appears to be a combination perfect-storm and Tsunami bearing down on the country. The lack of vaccines just now,with a huge third-wave is a pending disaster. Time to stop talking, and start doing.

 

 

 

[Ralf001]

59 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

The crazy bureaucracy here is leading to unnecessary deaths.

 

Will Pfizer result in less deaths than those that have received (and continue to do so) Sinopharm/Sinovac/Astra Zucchini vaccines ?

[mtls2005]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

Will Pfizer result in less deaths than those that have received (and continue to do so) Sinopharm/Sinovac/Astra Zucchini vaccines ?

 

I don't know, and I don't care.

 

This sort of question is the very heart of the problem. Talk, talk, talk. 

 

No more debates. Get as many people fully vaccinated as quickly as possible.

 

Singular focus, maximum effort. Everything else? Shelve it for six months.

 

Otherwise we'll be in a five-year wave-trough pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ArcticFox]

2 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

He has all the credentials to be a Thai politician, and even Prime Minister.

Promising lots and coming up with very little (or nothing in this case) !

Yeah.  He has the art form of over-exaggeration down well enough to fill most ministerial roles.  That and few billiion THB and Somchai's your uncle.

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Why am I thinking he's pulled out because going through a gov't agency to buy the vaccines cancels/massively reduces his 'commission'?

 

So forget it.

That sounds more likely. 

Obviously, all of these activities little to do with the general well being of the population. 

[friendofthai]

Easy to understand why. Every country buy vaccine not because it is respectful or well-known or approved by respectful news sources and international organizations. Every country just want to defeat COVID. Yes - it is that simple. And what we see in the biggest pfizered country (USA) ? We see exponential growth with about 150k new COVID cases per day. That is why Thailand is buying Sinovac from the world leader in fighting COVID and in talks to buy Sputnik V.

[Emdog]

12 minutes ago, friendofthai said:

Easy to understand why. Every country buy vaccine not because it is respectful or well-known or approved by respectful news sources and international organizations. Every country just want to defeat COVID. Yes - it is that simple. And what we see in the biggest pfizered country (USA) ? We see exponential growth with about 150k new COVID cases per day. That is why Thailand is buying Sinovac from the world leader in fighting COVID and in talks to buy Sputnik V.

You clearly don't know what you are talking about, full stop. Are you hired by the Chinese or the Russians?

"Around 15,081 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the United States on August 3, 2021."

"the overwhelming majority of coronavirus patients are unvaccinated and their serious sickness preventable." https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102816/coronavirus-covid19-cases-number-us-americans-by-day/

Your non sequitur conclusion based on imaginary data is laughable. "That is why Thailand is buying Sinovac... the world leader.."

Thailand is giving Pfizer "booster" shot to health workers who got that "world leader" vaccine that doesn't protect!

[david555]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

he is obviously being blocked by the Health ministry which is rather stupid if you me - if he can buy vaccines then why not let him try, it's not as there is a shortage or anything like that - just stupid control freaks 

Or they could not get heir hands on a contingent send from the USA ..... because they  (USA) might... made strong  conditions on the sending ,there must be a part of it to vaccinating foreigners  ...

[Caldera]

Unlikely, you say. ????

 

[tomacht8]

....he was working to secure the vaccines indirectly, via an unnamed government agency....

 

Indirectly, unnamed,

Dark channels or what?

Without coordination with the Ministry of Health?

So he becomes an order competitor for his own country for the scarce vaccine. How stupid is this?

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, david555 said:

Or they could not get heir hands on a contingent send from the USA ..... because they  (USA) might... made strong  conditions on the sending ,there must be a part of it to vaccinating foreigners  ...

All this aside, there is much too much petty politics involved as it applies to vaccines, their distributors, and powers that be - everywhere. 

 

The whole COVID era is a boon to geopolitical strategies and it's pursuits. 

[hioctane]

2 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

....he was working to secure the vaccines indirectly, via an unnamed government agency....

 

Indirectly, unnamed,

Dark channels or what?

Without coordination with the Ministry of Health?

So he becomes an order competitor for his own country for the scarce vaccine. How stupid is this?

That is why vaccine manufacturers have said they will only deal with governments. They don’t want profiteering going on. 

[Scott]

Numerous off-topic, troll posts removed along with replies.  Please don't feed trolls.

 

[Albert Zweistein]

8 hours ago, zhounan said:

Health should be a Public Good, not a tycoons' business.

 

So, no private hospitals ?