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Published on February 27, 2008

The Cabinet yesterday approved the transfer of Food and Drug Adminis-tration (FDA) chief Siriwat Thiptharadol to be an inspector-general for Public Health Ministry.

Medical Services Department director-general Chatree Bancheun would be Siriwat's successor, while Public Health inspector-general Rewat Wisarutwet would be the new Medical Services Department chief, deputy government spokesman Nattawut Saikua said.

Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsup did not give any reasons for the moves, government spokes-man Wichianchote Sukchoterat said.

But it was understood the change in agency administrators was in line with the ministry's mission.

He would not confirm if the transfers had anything to do with possible changes to the policy on compulsory licensing of patented drugs (CL).

An informed source at the ministry said the transfers were an off-season order and the Siriwat transfer might stem from the CL policy because he led the negotiating committee for drug prices.

Siriwat was also the only official who worked on the CL policy while still serving at the ministry after Mongkol na Songkhla ended his term as health minister, the source said.

It is the second contentious shifting of a senior official by the Samak Sundaravej administration.

The first occurred last week with the transfer of Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Sunai Manomai-udom to serve as acting secretary-general of the newly established Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption.

Chaiya said later his decision to transfer Siriwat had nothing to do with the doctor's involvement with compulsory licensing, because it was former public minister Mongkol na Songkhla who got Thailand involved with the issue.

The minister said he would not want anyone to view Siriwat's transfer as a matter of dignity. "Everyone is supposed to be able to perform his duties, wherever he works," he said.

However, Chaiya said Siriwat had not yet reported back to him with results of an inspection of an energy drink brand suspected to contain illegal ingredients.

"I gave a direct order to Siriwat during the new government's declaration of its new policies last week, and I have still have not received any report from him," he added.

Dr Kriengsak Watcharanu-koolkiat, chairman of the Rural Doctors Society, said the transfers of the three doctors were suspicious.

"The transfers have been made to punish doctors involved in the CL matter to make an example," he said.

The doctor said he believed the next two doctors to be transferred from their posts would be Dr Wichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) board, who has supported the CL issue, and GPO director Dr Withit Atthachekul.

Chaiya said he believed Chatree would not have any problems dealing with the CL issue despite having less knowledge and familiarity with the issue than Siriwat. "All details and relevant information about CL has been recorded and can be accessed anytime," he said.

The minister also said he did not consult anyone over his decision on the transfers, made for the sake of flexibility and "utmost benefit to the public health ministry".

The Nation