Paracetamol Scandal: Action Sought Against Top Thai Official

[webfact]

Action sought against top GPO official
Puangchompoo Prasert,
Piyanut Thamnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong has asked the board of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) to consider taking disciplinary action against managing director Witit Artavatkun for his alleged involvement in the paracetamol procurement scandal.

Witit will today hold a news conference to try to convince the public of his innocence by explaining |the precursor procurement procedures.

Pradith said he had received the results of a probe by the Department of Special Investigation, which suspected that Witit and then-GPO chairman Wichai Chokwiwat were involved in the alleged bid-rigging of the contract to purchase substances from China for the production of paracetamol during the flooding in 2011.

According to the DSI's report, Witit and Wichai had given unreasonable answers in their testimonies, Pradith said.

Wichai also did not stop this practice during his term.

The DSI's findings will be sent to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation.

Tarit Pengdith, director-general of the DSI, said his agency had uncovered five irregularities:

- The GPO stopped making paracetamol in 2001 and hired the Defence Pharmaceutical Factory and Osot Inter Co to produce it from precursors provided by the GPO.

In the past, the GPO imported |the compounds from only one company.

- The Defence Pharmaceutical Factory found contamination in the precursors.

- The GPO's factory is still under construction but it continued to import the precursors.

- The GPO used a special procedure to procure the precursors, citing the massive flood in 2011.

- The GPO imported only 150-600 kilograms of the materials for making paracetamol.

"This is just the preliminary conclusion of the investigation. Witit and Wichai are still not accused in this case," Tarit said.


-- The Nation 2013-05-02

[arthurboy]

Well l never.

Collusion, procurement irregularities and corruption.

Just another tedious day at the office.

[LuckyLew]

one party investigates ... another party investigates some more

but nothing ever changes and nothing really gets done

Guess they have to look like they are doing something, they could

do something useful like becoming street sweepers

[NongKhaiKid]

one party investigates ... another party investigates some more

but nothing ever changes and nothing really gets done

Guess they have to look like they are doing something, they could

do something useful like becoming street sweepers

Thai officials are experts at doing nothing yet making it look as if they are, well they've had enough experience. It's like walking around an office with a file in your hand, nobody thinks you are doing anything other than your job.

[A Member]

one party investigates ... another party investigates some more

but nothing ever changes and nothing really gets done

Guess they have to look like they are doing something, they could

do something useful like becoming street sweepers

As has been said so many times in the media, through this forum etc. Thai politicians and officials really don't like pursuing each other as almost everybody is involved in something or other and one day may hope to have the courtesy of whitewash or inaction extended to them

[Halion]

Just another incident in a sick and morally bankrupt greedy society where the priviledged continue to line their pockets at the expense of the public with impunity.

If you look at the structure of the Thai Government administration it is riddled with redundant groups with ridiculous names created by senior officials with the purpose of providing position of power to their friends and relatives and provide them with further opportunities to rip of the Thai public.

[newermonkey]

one party investigates ... another party investigates some more

but nothing ever changes and nothing really gets done

Guess they have to look like they are doing something, they could

do something useful like becoming street sweepers

As has been said so many times in the media, through this forum etc. Thai politicians and officials really don't like pursuing each other as almost everybody is involved in something or other and one day may hope to have the courtesy of whitewash or inaction extended to them

I am good at that as well!

[chainarong]

The cracked record syndrome, Regurgitating something that has happened and will happen again and again and again!!!!!!!!!!

[jocko]

one party investigates ... another party investigates some more

but nothing ever changes and nothing really gets done

Guess they have to look like they are doing something, they could

do something useful like becoming street sweepers

As has been said so many times in the media, through this forum etc. Thai politicians and officials really don't like pursuing each other as almost everybody is involved in something or other and one day may hope to have the courtesy of whitewash or inaction extended to them

It's a team game.

[bumpkin]

Why do they bother with manufacturing paracetamol ? It is widely available from many reputable manufacturers around the world. The large quantities required could be purchased at very competitive costs. Managing a manufacturing facility with the potential risks from raw material supply, process management and quality control, far outweigh any advantage. It is doubtful if establishing and managing such a processing facilty would show any benefit, financial or otherwise. As for security of supply, how does relying on one supplier (your own factory) compare with sourcing from a number of reputable, external manufacturers ? What is required, is a first class analytical laboratory to conduct quality control on all purchases, whether raw materials or finished products. Money better spent !

[ginjag]

Just corrupt -greed,

I've tried getting the drug but the----parrots-eat-em-all.

[market trader]

If the 150 kilograms of material for making paracetamol came from China it was probably only baking soda at best.

[Bluespunk]

Why do they bother with manufacturing paracetamol ? It is widely available from many reputable manufacturers around the world. The large quantities required could be purchased at very competitive costs. Managing a manufacturing facility with the potential risks from raw material supply, process management and quality control, far outweigh any advantage. It is doubtful if establishing and managing such a processing facilty would show any benefit, financial or otherwise. As for security of supply, how does relying on one supplier (your own factory) compare with sourcing from a number of reputable, external manufacturers ? What is required, is a first class analytical laboratory to conduct quality control on all purchases, whether raw materials or finished products. Money better spent !

Ah, but you're missing the real purpose of this process. It's not to get the best deal for Thailand, but rather for those involved in the procurement procedure to embezzle as much as possible for themselves.

[Locationthailand]

More banal corrupt garbage from yet another slime 'official'. Nothing new here.

[clockman]

These disgusting people, claim they love Thailand? but they love money more. Then these devout Buddhists are off to the temple to make merit!