Where Does The Thai Public Stand Amidst The Healthcare Spat?

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BURNING ISSUE
Where does the public stand amidst the healthcare spat?
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The battle is on in the country's public healthcare arena. On one side is Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong; on the other side is a closely-knit network of rural doctors and their supporters who recognise Pradit as a shrewd business operator.

Both sides have clashed and received some bruises. Yet, it remains unclear which side will win in the end and whether the battle will benefit the public.

Pradit, a former businessman, has run into hot water after he decided to introduce the Pay-for-Performance (P4P) concept in the public-healthcare sector. He has listed many good reasons for the concept, including the provision of fair remuneration for hard-working health workers.

Rural doctors, however, have eyed him with suspicion. They have attacked his idea, accusing him of trying to undermine public healthcare in the hope of allowing private hospitals to prosper.

Pradit's opponents staged a series of protests; yet they failed to thwart the launch of P4P that became effective from April 1.

More than 20 hospitals have put up banners to condemn the P4P. Also, they have not compiled any records for the calculation of performance scores.

Such civil disobedience, though unusual, has not generated a big impact because more than 400 other hospitals have agreed to the new pay-calculation method. Pradit has had the backing of the Thai Federation of General and Central Hospital Doctors all along.

His opponents have refused to bow out of the fight, though. They have now vowed to upgrade their protest against Pradit by exposing a series of alleged corruption cases related to him.

They have accused him of arranging a more than Bt114-million budget for the purchase of blood-glucose monitors for village public-health volunteers. They insist that hospitals usually get such devices for free because sellers want to market the disposable test strips.

Last week, the Rural Doctors Society officially called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to look into the purchase of the devices, and also petitioned the Office of the Auditor-General.

Although the allegation has not yet knocked Pradit out of his post, he is bruised.

He can feel the pressure on him rising and the need to fight back.

Pradit has now thrown several punches at his opponents.

He has already instructed his secretary to file complaints with the DSI about the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) project to construct a flu/bird flu vaccine manufacturing facility, and over purchases of problematic precursor chemicals for Paracetamol production.

Targeted in the probe are the GPO former chairman Dr Vichai Chokevivat and GPO current chief Dr Witit Artavatkun.

Because Wichai is widely seen as a big brother of rural doctors, Pradit's move against him hints at a vengeance mode.

Pradit has warned his opponents to not cross the line otherwise they themselves will be in trouble.

"Don't let me dig deep into your actions," he said.

His words suggest that many persons in the fight must have something to hide from the public eye.

If those things are personal, the public won't need to know.

But if public interest is at stake, people of course will want to see both sides digging deeper to stop wrongdoers from funnelling away state budget.

Let's hope that Pradit and his opponents will not fight simply for their own interest.

If any policy is corrupt, someone needs to blow the whistle for the sake of the community.

If any corruption plagues a government budget, someone needs to speak up to save the money where it is due.

Public healthcare is very important for people's lives and their country. No matter what the conflicts, people must closely monitor the situation and help good fighters.

Those having ill-will should be thrown out.


-- The Nation 2013-05-14

[Thait Spot]

The whole system looks rotten

[Pib]

When this issue first raised its head and the rural doctors began protesting I though the govt would quickly back down and give this small group of rural doctors & hospitals what they wanted which was basically the status quo while the rest of the health care system moved on, but the health minister seems to be standing his ground, right or wrong.

Edited May 14, 2013 by Pib

[pee paub]

So in essence he is saying, don't expose my corruption or I will expose your corruption?

[Lingba]

What do you mean where does the public stand???...Thailand is the hub of course

[axact]

The whole system looks rotten

I'm surprised you have such an insight to the thai health care system. Perhaps you could expand upon that & advise us of your qualifications in regard to the healthcare sector. So many people here do not have knowledge of what they are posting about it will be a refreshing change to hear an experts view.

[winstonc]

i think youl find he said it looks rotton not is,,,,,,,,,,,,