Whistleblower Exposes Thai Hospital Drug Fraud

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

In a dramatic twist, a major corruption scandal involving the misuse of taxpayer-funded medications has been uncovered in Thailand, centred around the Veterans General Hospital. The operation, which has run unchecked for over ten years, involved fabricating patients to illicitly obtain and resell drugs, depriving the public purse of billions of Thai Baht and risking public health.

 

The hero behind this revelation is Ms Patchani Phunsuk, a courageous whistleblower who, despite threats and warnings, decided to unearth the deeply-rooted malpractice. Initially approached by a recruiter to join the scheme, she turned the tables by gathering concrete evidence against her would-be accomplices.

 

The scheme was as cunning as it was simple. Fake patients, often elderly and from the military community in Lop Buri, were coached to feign ailments at the Bangkok-based hospital. These "patients" would be prescribed unnecessary medications, which were then handed over to the ringleaders for cash, and sold on the black market. This included drugs ranging from heart medication to eye drops.

 

Among those involved was Ms Eang, a key recruiter, and her superior, a high-ranking army official known as Ms Reed. Fake patients like a 54-year-old woman described how high-calorie foods were given onboard transport to affect their blood tests, ensuring they’d receive prescribed drugs. They were paid between 1,000 and 1,500 Thai Baht for each hospital visit.

 

The operation expanded beyond merely fabricating illnesses. Some doctors were complicit, routinely prescribing excessive amounts of drugs. The medicines, often excluded from government health cover, left a significant loophole open for exploitation.

 

 

 

The illegal enterprise was orchestrated with alarming sophistication. A clandestine network moved drugs to a laundry near Rama IV, Bangkok, before they were traded in illicit markets.

 

Despite intense pressure to suppress the emerging scandal, Ms Patchani remained steadfast. She submitted her collected evidence to the House committee on the Armed Forces, igniting a full-scale investigation by the police Anti-Corruption Division and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

 

About 600 fake patients from seven network groups, largely rooted in Lop Buri, have so far been implicated, with inquiries widening across provinces and other hospitals.

 

Patchani’s bravery in coming forward has been praised widely. She implores others involved to confess and assist in unravelling this conspiracy. Her actions resonate as a clarion call for transparency and justice, setting a precedent for tackling corruption in Thailand’s healthcare system.

 

As legal proceedings gain momentum, this scandal promises to restructure the systemic flaws it has exposed, heralding greater accountability and reform within the nation's medical institutions, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-24

 

 

[dinsdale]

Just another example of corruption in a country that's corrupt from the very top down.

[steven100]

Fraud in Thailand .....   now who would have thunk that   !!  

I hope she has a good bodyguard.   

[Geoffggi]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

Fake patients, often elderly and from the military community in Lop Buri,

 

Now let's see who would have been at the helm back then ................LOL

[ChipButty]

Corruption in every hospital the prices they charge for drugs, another racket is blood test, 4000 baht, I found a place in Phuket town, from 200 baht the most I paid was 500 baht, 

[Gsxrnz]

Considering the propensity for Thai doctors to over prescribe medication, this was probably a very lucrative scam.

 

I recently went to a prominent Pattaya hospital to get the wax in my ears cleaned out. After cleaning, the doctor tells me she will prescribe some medication. I asked what she was giving me, and why. Two antibiotics, an antihistamine, and paracetamol. As to the reasons, crickets.

 

I said thanks but no thanks. She was miffed. 

[ChipButty]

13 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

Considering the propensity for Thai doctors to over prescribe medication, this was probably a very lucrative scam.

 

I recently went to a prominent Pattaya hospital to get the wax in my ears cleaned out. After cleaning, the doctor tells me she will prescribe some medication. I asked what she was giving me, and why. Two antibiotics, an antihistamine, and paracetamol. As to the reasons, crickets.

 

I said thanks but no thanks. She was miffed. 

They must be on commission for the amount of drugs they prescribe, 

[Tropicalevo]

 

Very well done Ms Patchani, and very brave as well.

 

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Corruption in every hospital the prices they charge for drugs,

 

I never let the hospital give me drugs.

I always ask the doctors to write down the 'prescription' and then I buy them at the local pharmacy.

The pharmacist usually asks 'copy or original'?

[Andre0720]

If a doctor does not ask about a patient's diet, he is a drug pusher....

[lordgrinz]

Just another example of what happens when you teach everyone in society, including children, that corruption is OK.

[save the frogs]

so you think western doctors are not trigger happy with prescribing drugs?

how many people have been on antibiotics for the sniffles?

 

[KireB]

9 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

so you think western doctors are not trigger happy with prescribing drugs?

how many people have been on antibiotics for the sniffles?

 

This about hospitals in Thailand. Western countries are less corrupt than Thailand of course.

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, KireB said:

This about hospitals in Thailand. Western countries are less corrupt than Thailand of course.

no, western countries are not less corrupt.

 

many scientific studies are deliberately flawed and paid by Big Pharma to give people misinformation on diet so people will get sick and need to end up in the hospital system.

 

Corruption is the oldest profession in the world. 

 

[KireB]

3 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

no, western countries are not less corrupt.

 

many scientific studies are deliberately flawed and paid by Big Pharma to give people misinformation on diet so people will get sick and need to end up in the hospital system.

 

Corruption is the oldest profession in the world. 

 

Never heard of the Corruption Perception Index, I guess?

Prostitution is the oldest job in the world.

[lordgrinz]

5 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

no, western countries are not less corrupt.

 

Umm? You new to Thailand? 

 

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Umm? You new to Thailand? 

 

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

 

ok, maybe thailand is more corrupt.

what do i know?

 

[Chris BKK]

I always ask what is being prescribed and often items are crossed out. It is my understanding from a retired Doctor than at many hospitals the Doctors are given a target amount of drugs to be prescribed. Drop below the target and sanctions are imposed

[steven100]

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

no, western countries are not less corrupt.

 

many scientific studies are deliberately flawed and paid by Big Pharma to give people misinformation on diet so people will get sick and need to end up in the hospital system.

 

Corruption is the oldest profession in the world. 

 

nonsense ....   corruption is rife in Thailand ...  it's ranked about 12th most corrupt in the world,   I'd probably trust a Filippino before a Thai. 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, steven100 said:

nonsense ....   corruption is rife in Thailand ...  it's ranked about 12th most corrupt in the world,   I'd probably trust a Filippino before a Thai. 

western countries have a welfare system, unemployment insurance ...

thailand doesn't, so that might be one reason.

 

[steven100]

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

western countries have a welfare system, unemployment insurance ...

thailand doesn't, so that might be one reason.

 

I tend to agree that's part the reason,  and the rest is greed. 

[sandyf]

6 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The pharmacist usually asks 'copy or original'?

You mean generic or branded.

Most on here would choose branded, elitism, and then complain about being ripped off.

[Purdey]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Fake patients, often elderly and from the military community

Strange how this group are dyed in the wool criminals. Never trust an old fogey, especially one with medals.

[TheFishman1]

From top to bottom where it be the police department the politicians the school director the governors of the province all of these are corrupt it’s no different the hospitals are the same way no surprise here TIT

[Jim Blue]

4 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

From top to bottom where it be the police department the politicians the school director the governors of the province all of these are corrupt it’s no different the hospitals are the same way no surprise here TIT

Wonder who gets the really BIG envelopes ? Or is it paid via crypto thesr days?

[Tropicalevo]

According to The Thaiger today, police have started arresting those involved in this scam.

The names of the people involved are different and the whistleblower here, Ms Patchani Phunsuk, does not get a mention.

The person claiming that prize is a general

Quote

This operation was initiated following complaints by General Dechnitith Lueangngamkham, director of the War Veterans Organisation, who reported the fraudulent activities to the anti-corruption police.