• 
• 

Published on March 1, 2008

The protesters performed an "exorcism" of Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap, which they said would protect them from "evil" that had haunted the ministry since he took charge.

Rural Doctors' Society chairman Dr Kriengsak Watcharanu-koolkiat said there was no reason to transfer Siriwat, a move that was "suspicious and unfair".

"The transfer punishes doctors involved in compulsory licensing," he added.

Siriwat worked on the previous government's compulsory licensing of expensive HIV/Aids, cancer and heart treatments, which enabled poor patients access to these drugs at much lower prices.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved Siriwat's transfer. The former administration boss is now an inspector-general, an inactive posting. Chaiya gave no reason for the transfer.

Kriengsak said some of his group had requested Royal advice over the transfer.

He said the group would collect 20,000 signatures.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation