Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - June 29, 2008
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
The removal was recommended by Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab who nominated replacements for them headed by Thirachai Wuthitham, a former manager of the national football team.
Cabinet last month appointed Mr Thirachai as GPO board chairman along with the new board and stripped Dr Vichai of the chairmanship based on Mr Chaiya's recommendation.
As the court agreed to consider the case, it also issued an injunction which effectively allows the reinstatement of the Vichai board for the duration of the trial.
The Thirachai board, in the meantime, has to step aside.
Dr Vichai said his first priority is to review the policies advocated by the Thirachai board which may be detrimental to the ministry.
One of the policies expected to be under scrutiny is pharmacy franchising. In Dr Vichai's view, it likely to mar trade competitiveness, putting local pharmacies nationwide at a disadvantage commercially.
"We have to work fast to correct the mistake. GPO has lost many business opportunities to changes during the past month," he said during the Asia-Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium for university students.
Dr Vichai was named GPO board chairman during the interim government administration.
He was a close aide to former health minister Mongkol Na Songkhla and a key advocate of compulsory licensing (CL) to bypass patents held by drug manufacturers over medicines for Aids, cancer and heart problems. The move has upset multinational drug companies.
Mr Chaiya opposed the CL policy from his first day in office.
Dr Vichai has said he will carry on with licensing.
Mr Chaiya also has to testify to the Administrative Court on July 2 over a remark he made which may be deemed in contempt of court.
In an interview with the media, Mr Chaiya questioned the court's ruling and the qualifications of the judges. But he denied intentionally offending the court.
Mr Chaiya said yesterday he has not seen the court's summons telling him to testify. However, he has asked a lawyer to defend him.
Mr Chaiya is also preparing to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court against the reinstatement of the Vichai board.
Dr Vichai has insisted Mr Chaiya lacked the legitimacy to remove his board because the minister has to be tried in the Constitution Court for his failure to declare his wife's shares in a private firm exceeding 5%, which is the legal limit.
Mr Chaiya failed to notify the National Counter Corruption Commission of his wife's excess shares within 30 days of his assuming office on Feb 6.
080629
BP080607
Copyright © 2008 - The Bangkok Post. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Bangkok Post.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2008. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2008. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .