RURAL DOCTORS TO VET ITEMS ON PURCHASE LIST

       The Public Health Ministry plans to have the Rural Doctors Society officially investigate its planned procurement of medical devices under the Thai Khemkhaeng budget.
       "We will let the society's representatives sit in on a committee to oversee and investigate the procurement," the ministry's Permanent Secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said yesterday.
       He was speaking after the Rural Doctors Society revealed many items listed in the procurement plan were overpriced. These items included UV fans and biochemistry blood test devices.
       The society's chairman Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiet said some items were in fact not necessary at all.
       "For example, not all tambon hospitals need a one-tonne truck. Some of these hospitals have just a few staff members. They won't be able to find a driver. In addition, maintenance and petrol costs could put them in trouble," Kriangsak said.
       He also pointed out that many manufacturers were willing to give free biochemistry blood test devices worth Bt3million to state hospitals as long as the facilities agreed to buy solutions from them.
       Kriangsak said his society did not seek to shoot down the procurement plan.
       "But we are calling for a review because there is clearly a way to save the budget," he said.
       Health Professional Association chairman Paisal Bangchuad added that many advanced medical devices from the planned procurement would be useless at tambon hospitals.
       "Most staff members at the tambon hospitals are not doctors. We cannot administer advanced equipment," he said.
       He said the tambon hospitals wanted devices that could be shared with health volunteers.
       "We hope the ministry will prepare some budget for each hospital to buy what is necessary for its operations. For example, some hospitals may want boats, not pickups," he said.
       Paijit said he had instructed provincial public-health chiefs to suspend the procurement of controversial items. "I am going to appoint a deputy permanent secretary to oversee the overall procurement too," he said.
       Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said a committee tasked with investigating the budget use for the procurement of medical devices would comprise six to seven members.
       "In this committee will be representatives from provincial hospitals, community hospitals and the Rural Doctors Society," he added.