Words sentences that are offensive

[webfact]

Hidden agenda to privatise GPO: Wichai
Puangchumpoo Prasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The dismissal of Dr Witit Artavatkun, chief of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, occurred due to political intervention with the hidden agenda to privatise the organisation, ex-GPO board chairman Dr Wichai Chokewiwat alleged.

"The end of good governance practised at the GPO is next, before a possible privatisation," he added.

Citing an interview by the unnamed head of a network of the state-enterprise unions, Wichai said Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawan-arong once asked this person: "If I want to privatise GPO, would you oppose it?"

The GPO's principle function - serving the public as the state's pharmaceutical producer - would be dropped and replaced by a profit-driven agenda, after privatisation.

"A privatised GPO would no longer be able to produce cheap medicines for public use, but would pave the way for foreign firms to produce medicines at a much higher cost," he said.

Citing his five-year tenure as head of the GPO board, Wichai said the organisation should remain a state enterprise. He defended his own decision to dismiss a former GPO chief, Dr Mongkhol Jiwasantikarn, saying the process was transparent and the factors prompting Mongkhol's removal were fair and based on legal criteria.

"Political influence on state agencies and officials today is so powerful that it causes senior officials to lie. That way they feel they are not forced to make decisions," he said.

Meanwhile, head of the Rural Doctors Society, Dr Kriengsak Vacharanukulkieti, denied that the society was behind a rally planned by kidney patients demanding the dismissal of Pradit. A large group of protesters are planning to rally outside PM Yingluck Shinawatra's home next week to protest against the government's planned co-payment scheme.


-- The Nation 2013-05-24

[geriatrickid]

Although there is no evidence to support the claim. the statement from the former chairman does raise the issue of whether or not a government should be in the manufacturing business. Most governments aside from countries like China do not undertake business operations, partcicularly manufacturing and distribution of consumer goods.

Thailand's government should not be in the manufacturing business. There are ways to secure low cost drugs from the private sector and it is called buying groups. This is seen in many countries where the costs of drugs are kept relatively low. The claim that drugs are cheap in Thailand is a bit of a myth. The hospitals and pharmacies have significant markups on the drugs that they distribute. Some countries regulate the maximum markups allowed.

[chainarong]

Although there is no evidence to support the claim. the statement from the former chairman does raise the issue of whether or not a government should be in the manufacturing business. Most governments aside from countries like China do not undertake business operations, particularly manufacturing and distribution of consumer goods.

Thailand's government should not be in the manufacturing business. There are ways to secure low cost drugs from the private sector and it is called buying groups. This is seen in many countries where the costs of drugs are kept relatively low. The claim that drugs are cheap in Thailand is a bit of a myth. The hospitals and pharmacies have significant markups on the drugs that they distribute. Some countries regulate the maximum markups allowed.

Those Chinese factories owned by the Government have 50 out of the top 100 Executives of the billionaire's club, there's a good reason.

[Mampara]

Although there is no evidence to support the claim. the statement from the former chairman does raise the issue of whether or not a government should be in the manufacturing business. Most governments aside from countries like China do not undertake business operations, partcicularly manufacturing and distribution of consumer goods.

Thailand's government should not be in the manufacturing business. There are ways to secure low cost drugs from the private sector and it is called buying groups. This is seen in many countries where the costs of drugs are kept relatively low. The claim that drugs are cheap in Thailand is a bit of a myth. The hospitals and pharmacies have significant markups on the drugs that they distribute. Some countries regulate the maximum markups allowed.

The more popular the drug, the higher the price

[winstonc]

can you guess whose guna have said finger in the pie,,,,answers on a postcard please,,,

[Frank James]

Generic drugs made here are very high quality, and far cheaper than what i have to pay in the USA, for equivalent generics. name brands, forget it! Whatever keeps things that way, let it be. Turning it over to International Big Pharma is NOT the answer.

[khunken]

Although there is no evidence to support the claim. the statement from the former chairman does raise the issue of whether or not a government should be in the manufacturing business. Most governments aside from countries like China do not undertake business operations, partcicularly manufacturing and distribution of consumer goods.

Thailand's government should not be in the manufacturing business. There are ways to secure low cost drugs from the private sector and it is called buying groups. This is seen in many countries where the costs of drugs are kept relatively low. The claim that drugs are cheap in Thailand is a bit of a myth. The hospitals and pharmacies have significant markups on the drugs that they distribute. Some countries regulate the maximum markups allowed.

There is no good reason why the government should NOT be manufacturing generic drugs. The GPO has produced generic drugs to a high standard and that is why big pharma companies are continually complaining about Thailand, India & any country that manages to make drugs affordable to its citizens.

If hospitals & pharmacies have significant markups then that problem should be tackled. The price of drugs at government run hospitals is a damn site cheaper than private hospitals. Privatising the GPO is just a recipe for handing over a monopoly to some party cronies. It would not be any benefit for ordinary Thais - quite the reverse.