Medical Services Department director-general Chatree Banchuen and Emergency Medical Services Centre director Somchai Kanchanasut are both facing investigations for allegedly committing grave disciplinary offences.

The probes relate to two of the Public Health Ministry's biggest corruption scandals.

At a press conference, ministry deputy permanent secretary Manit Thiratantikanont yesterday said he chaired the fact-finding committee that would look into the alleged offences by Chatree and seven other members on a panel in charge of a computer-procurement project.

Chatree, meanwhile, insists that he did nothing wrong and is not worried about the probe against him.

According to available information, the panel chaired by Chatree allegedly lied to its supervisor and recommended then-permanent secretary for Public Health Vichai Tienthavorn to cancel the bidding process against regulations.

"The allegation is based on information from previous fact-finding committees," Manit said.

He added that his committee would also determine whether any other people had been involved in the alleged irregularities.

"We will complete our investigation within 60 days," Manit said.

On the alleged irregularities involving the ministry's purchase of high-performance ambulances, Manit said all members of the project's specifications panel would be subject to probes. Somchai chaired the specifications panel.

Given the scope of specifications, only one company was qualified to bid for the project to supply high-performance ambulances.

"Medical Sciences Department director general Paijit Warachit will chair the fact-finding committee in charge of this case," Manit said, adding that the panel chaired by Paijit was also expected to complete its investigation within 60 days.

The ambulance-purchase project has survived repeated cancellations of the bidding process. The purchase finally went ahead at Bt340 million for 232 ambulances. This price was about Bt54 million lower than the initial bidding price.

The ambulances have already been delivered to the ministry.

However, the Office of the Auditor-General said earlier this week that these ambulances were of substandard quality and requested the ministry to keep them in their original condition pending further examination.

As a result, Manit said, Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla has established another committee, chaired by Dr Panya Sornkom, to look into the issue.

Panya is a former director-general of the Medical Sciences Department.

"This committee will conclude its investigation within 30 days," Manit said.

Duangkamon  Sajirawattanakul

The Nation