Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - February 27, 2008
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
Mr Siriwat is the second senior official to be suddenly moved from his position by the government.
Sunai Manomai-udom was moved from the head of the Department of Special Investigation to a less important position by Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat last Friday.
Dr Siriwat's transfer was made by Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab, who oversees the FDA, and was approved by the cabinet with immediate effect. It also involves two other officials.
Dr Siriwat was appointed a ministry inspector and his position at the FDA given to Chatree Banchuen, director-general of the Medical Services Department. Ministry inspector Raywat Visruthvej replaces Dr Chatree at the department.
Dr Siriwat's removal comes as little surprise as he was seen as a close aide to former public health minister Mongkol na Songkhla, who approved compulsory licensing to bypass patents on Aids, heart and cancer drugs.
Dr Siriwat was directly involved in the CL policy as he was appointed by Dr Mongkol to chair a panel working on negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.
However, Mr Chaiya said the transfer of Dr Siriwat had nothing to do the former government's policy on compulsory licensing.
"The reason for this transfer was only to improve the working of the ministry. I do not personally love or hate anyone in particular," he said.
Mr Chaiya indicated that the change was linked to delayed inquiries handled by the FDA into illegal energy drinks and unhygienic imported pork meat.
The minister said Dr Siriwat's move would not obstruct his planned negotiations on cancer drug prices listed for patent bypassing. He believed Dr Chatree capable of meeting the demands of the FDA's top post.
Dr Chatree was allegedly involved in a 900-million-baht computer scandal at the ministry when Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan was minister. She is one of the 111 Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party executives subsequently banned from politics for five years.
Dr Chatree, who was then public health inspector, chaired the bidding for the computer procurement contract in 2003. He allegedly revoked the bidding results without sufficient grounds.
He faces no punishment even though the investigation findings by the disciplinary panel reported he was implicated in the case.
Health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirote and Dr Siriwat declined to comment on the transfer, but Dr Chatree said he was surprised by his transfer to the FDA.
A source at the ministry said Mr Chaiya had decided to appoint officials who previously supported the TRT to work closely with him.
While Khunying Sudarat was at the helm of the ministry, Dr Chatree was appointed director-general of medical services and Dr Raywat director-general of health services support.
Kriangsak Vacharanukulkiat, chairman of the Rural Doctors Society, suspected the sudden move of Dr Siriwat to an inactive position was linked to the CL policy.
Dr Kriangsak said the minister had not asked for information from Dr Siriwat when he made his decision to review the licences on four cancer drugs, even though he was heading negotiations with the international drug firms.
"Dr Siriwat's move clearly shows that the health minister doesn't want to continue the CL policy, or stand for the people as he has claimed," he said.
"The public should watch closely if the Public Health Ministry reverses the compulsory licences on cancer drugs," he said.
Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, urged Dr Siriwat to submit the case to the Administrative Court for what she felt was an unfair transfer and abuse of power.
She said Vichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation board chairman and chairman of the compulsory licensing committee from the very beginning might be the next to go.
Nimit Tienudom, chairman of the Aids Access Foundation, said the minister did not make a smart move in transferring the FDA secretary-general outside the usual reshuffle period.
"This unfair transfer of a good civil servant is a ticking time bomb for the health minister himself," he said.
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