Uproar as Narong's name linked to Public Health ministership
The Nation


National Legislative Assembly members vote in support of five draft laws yesterday, which included Customs Bill and amendments to the Customs Tariff Bill.

President of Rural Doctors' Society warns the man would give rise to chaos and protests through mismanagement

BANGKOK: -- As Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha considers names for his Cabinet, many doctors are voicing discontent over reports that Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Narong Sahametapat might be made the minister.

However, the name of Dr Rajata Rajatanavin, rector of Mahidol University, has also come up for this post.

Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat, president of the Rural Doctors' Society, said Narong was not suitable for the job and could be expected to mismanage the budgets for wages and allowances for temporary and permanent officials of the ministry, which would give rise to conflicts and chaos. He also said Narong might create more problems at the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation.

As for Rajata, Kriangsak said he did not know what he would be like as a minister since he is mostly an outsider.

Prachumporn Buracharoen, who chairs the Thai Federation of General and Central Hospital Doctors, said that if Rajata were given the Public Health Ministry portfolio, existing officials would have to adjust to his management style. On the other hand, they would not need to make any changes if Narong took over as they were accustomed to his style.

Also, she pointed out that Rajata had only been in the area of educating medical students and had little management experience. "He is competent but may find his hands full with problems that have accumulated at the ministry," she said.

Meanwhile, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, an adviser to the military's ruling National Council for Peace and Order, acknowledged that he was being wooed to join the Prayuth Cabinet. Sources say Pridiyathorn is being considered for the job of deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs.

Separately, Dr Narongchai Akrasanee has resigned from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), and reports say that he is being considered for the Energy portfolio.

Other than Narongchai, seven other members of the unelected assembly have also tendered their resignations, acting NLA secretary-general Norarat Pimsen said. They are Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Dr Rajata, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Maj-General Intarat Yodbangtoey, Aziz Phitakkumpon, General Thawatchai Samutsakorn and Lt-General Surachet Chaiyawong.

Intarat said he had quit the NLA as he did not meet the required qualifications. A former deputy leader of the defunct Matchima Thippathai Party, Intarat was banned from politics for five years after his party was dissolved on December 2, 2008.

Chularatchamontri Aziz said he stepped down because his role as spiritual leader of the country's Islamic community might be in conflict with his role at the NLA. He had also said earlier that it was against Islam to join a political organisation.

General Thawatchai, meanwhile, said he quit the NLA because he felt he was not qualified. He was previously a member of the Chart Pattana Party, and according to NLA regulations, members cannot have been involved with a political party over the past three years.

The NLA now has 192 members after eight of them tendered their resignations.

The latest person to resign yesterday was Surachet, deputy Army chief of staff, but he was not available for comment.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Uproar-as-Narongs-name-linked-to-Public-Health-min-30242021.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-29

Narong seems like the man for the job, total chaos if he is appointed , not much different to anywhere else.

Appoint the outsider. Fresh start.

Bringing back old faces can't be good. They are what got us to this point in the first place.

Narong would be a step back. Not up to the task of reconciliation and buidling bridges. Fresh face required, not the old guard.

Sounds like someones peed off that they werent considered for the job.

Narong stood up to the PT Govts silliness showing he was no ass kisser and had a mind of his own.

Must be one thing in his favor.

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Prachumporn Buracharoen, who chairs the Thai Federation of General and Central Hospital Doctors, said that if Rajata were given the Public Health Ministry portfolio, existing officials would have to adjust to his management style. On the other hand, they would not need to make any changes if Narong took over as they were accustomed to his style.

Looks like Ms Prachumporn Buracharoen is a contender for the Ministry of Style, Pomp and Other Important Things.

No old folks please I mean the old faces or self centered guys, find educated/action driven guys and let them start and refresh the system with Country and people first agenda! No more talk show but Action to build healthy nation..... thanks

Sounds like someones peed off that they werent considered for the job.

Narong stood up to the PT Govts silliness showing he was no ass kisser and had a mind of his own.

Must be one thing in his favor.

So should I say that you are kind of person inviting trouble?

Flashback to March 1, 2014 …

A banner calling for a corruption-free government was erected in the Public Health Ministry building by the Medical Workers' Network, which is led by the ministry's permanent secretary Dr Narong Sahametapat. It was ordered removed from the building but PDRC leader Issara Somchai and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) stormed the building during business hours to demand the banner be restored, ultimately installing it on the building rooftop.

Putting Narong in Prayuth’s Cabinet would just be political payback for Narong’s support of the PDRC while he was still part of the Yingluck government. In politics a person’s ideological loyalty is important in preserving power. This personal loyalty trumps knowledge and experience. Narong would be a great appointment for Prayuth’s Cabinet.

They can reward appoint who they like, the ultimate failure still won't be avoided.

No old folks please I mean the old faces or self centered guys, find educated/action driven guys and let them start and refresh the system with Country and people first agenda! No more talk show but Action to build healthy nation..... thanks

That will be the exact opposite of what the military will do and has always done.

One thing's confusing me about all these NLA resignations...

Various of them, already appointed to the NLA, are popping up to resign, saying they aren't eligible/qualified because they had some prior political involvement that they weren't supposed to have under the NLA eligibility rules.

So, if they weren't eligible, then how/why did they get appointed to the NLA in the first place??? It's not like it's a secret that various of these folks had prior/recent Thai political party positions.

Prachumporn Buracharoen, who chairs the Thai Federation of General and Central Hospital Doctors, said that if Rajata were given the Public Health Ministry portfolio, existing officials would have to adjust to his management style. On the other hand, they would not need to make any changes if Narong took over as they were accustomed to his style.

Also, she pointed out that Rajata had only been in the area of educating medical students and had little management experience. "He is competent but may find his hands full with problems that have accumulated at the ministry," she said.

Is it just me or does Prachumporn sound like a person you should take no notice of whatsoever? It's obvious she favours Narong as no changes would be needed because they were used to his style. This "style" apparently is having been responsible for the problems that have accumulated at the ministry (under Narongs watch) that the other other candidate would have had his hands full dealing with them?

I'm sure there's some kind of logic in there somewhere....................