Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - April 28, 2008
Kultida Samabuddhi
He has promised to hold talks with health officials before going ahead with the proposal.
Mr Chaiya again came under attack from health officials and networks of patients after he announced his intention to appoint Teera Chakajnarodom, the president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PReMA), to the 15-member GPO board.
He disclosed his plan at the annual conference of the Pharmaceutical Association of Thailand on Friday, where he also expressed concern over the quality of the drug production process at the state enterprise.
He said expertise from PReMA would help improve the GPO's competitiveness in the global drug market.
The minister yesterday confirmed his plan to appoint Mr Teera, but denied the move was to favour drug companies.
The planned move came after the resignation of five members from the GPO board, he said.
The minister said there is a need to include an expert from private drug firms on the board, which is now dominated by state officials who are not keen on business and marketing strategies.
"Under the GPO regulations, anyone can be a member of the board," he said in a phone interview.
However Mr Chaiya, who is under investigation by the National Counter Corruption Commission for failing to declare his wife's shareholding in a company and may lose his job, said he was aware of the strong protests and would have talks with GPO officials this week and listen to their opinions.
Since taking office on Feb 6, the minister has faced mounting criticism from health officials and activists, who have accused him of favouring drug companies, first by trying to revoke the compulsory licensing of heart, cancer and Aids drugs by the previous government.
His push for the appointment of the PReMA president to the GPO board has fuelled further discontent.
One of his harshest critics is the chairman of the GPO board, Vichai Chokewiwat, who said the move was like "letting the enemy in".
"The idea is bizarre. Never in the history of the GPO has a representative from the private sector, which is our business competitor, been allowed to sit on the board," said Dr Vichai.
Having a representative of the pharmaceutical industry on the board would give private firms access to the GPO's drug production plans, which should be kept confidential, he said.
"The appointment, if it goes ahead, will be very dangerous and could obstruct the GPO's production of cheap and good quality drugs for Thai people," he said.
Nimit Tienudom, the director of the Aids Access Foundation, also strongly opposed the move.
PReMA, which is a proxy of multinational pharmaceutical companies, has been trying every means possible to disrupt the GPO's work to produce good quality and cheap medicines to serve Thai citizens, he said.
Mr Teera said he had not been contacted by the minister and offered a seat on the GPO board.
However, he said, Mr Chaiya had made the right decision by proposing the inclusion of a representative of the drug industry on the GPO board.
"If we have an opportunity to join the board, we could help the agency expand markets for its medicinal products, improve the GPO's manufacturing standards and product quality, and also give them some ideas about research and development of new drugs," he said.
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