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Published on March 26, 2008

Under a group package with state-owned Dhipaya Insurance, the ministry is required to pay Bt43 million in annual fees. The coverage will compensate Bt1 million for each doctor or nurse's death, Bt500,000 for each ministry official and Bt300,000 for each contract employee.

The coverage is also eligible in case of disabilities at amounts depending on degrees of severity, Chaiya said in a ministry meeting yesterday, adding the insurance policy was his initiative.

There are 6,103 doctors and nurses working in the designated areas, along with 59 officials,

Samak defiant over investment in Burma

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday ignored calls from the United States and the United Kingdom against investment in Burma, saying no country can force Thailand not to befriend its neighbour.

"If western countries say no, why do we have to follow their orders," he said.

Asked whether Thailand takes human-rights issues into any investment consideration, Samak hit back by saying other nations also made investment decisions in violation of people's rights in other countries.

He said the Kingdom would benefit from having good ties with Burma.

"We want electricity, Burma has allowed us to build a dam. We want to sell goods there, Burma will build a port. Is that not good for Thailand?" he said.

Prime minister appoints Anupong as Isoc chief

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday delegated Army chief General Anupong Paochinda to be the chief of Internal Security Operations Command and granted him a full mandate to fight insurgency in the Deep South.

Under the security law, Samak is the ex officio chief of Isoc. He said he would remain overseeing the anti-insurgency operations but Anupong is in charge of implementation.

Judge Rungroj to preside over Thaksin lottery case

Judge Rungroj Ruenroengwong will preside over the graft trial on the lottery case involving 47 defendants, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, court spokesman Rakkiart Wattanapong said yesterday.

Chosen by his peers of the nine-judge bench, Rungroj is to supervise the trial proceedings at the Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders, a fast-track review on graft cases.

The Assets Examination Committee has accused Thaksin of abuse of power relating to the introduction of two- and three-digit lotteries in 2003.

With Rungroj as presiding judge, the high court has scheduled on May 14 to rule whether the case merits a judicial review.

GPO signs Bt15m deal for Indian cancer drugs

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) has signed a contract with the India-based Dabur company to import the first batch of the cancer drug docetaxel to treat patients who are suffering with breast and lung cancer.

Vithit Attavejchakul, the GPO's director, says the first batch of docetaxel will be imported from India within the next two months. The GPO will purchase 12,000 bottles of the drugs, with 6,000 to be provided to 1,000 patients across the country. This batch of drugs will cost Bt15.4 million.

 The company is now manufacturing the drugs and expects to export them to Thailand in June.

The Nation