Democrats to eradicate loopholes

       The Democrat Party has pledged to eradicate loopholes in the Thai Kem Kaeng economic stimulus project by learning a lesson from alleged irregularities in the Public Health Ministry's procurement of medical supplies.
       The Rural Doctors Society has accused the ministry of spending money on unnecessary and overpriced medical items for hospitals.
       Democrat spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks said the case would be considered in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his ministers are scheduled to discuss the budget for a second economic stimulus project.
       The ministry has been given 86.6 billion baht under the Thai Kem Kaeng project, which is part of a huge budget of 1.44 trillion baht.
       Around 60% of the ministry's spending goes to build public health buildings while the rest is used to buy medical equipment for hospitals.
       However, the Rural Doctors Society has alleged hospitals did not participate in the procurement and many bought items which were unnecessary and unusually expensive.
       The allegations have forced the advisory team of minister Witthaya Kaewparadai to resign. Doctors on Friday also demanded Mr Witthaya and his deputy Manit Nopamornbodee step down to make way for a transparent inquiry.
       Dr Buranaj yesterday defended the ministers, saying they did not have to resign now as there was no evidence of their involvement in the alleged scandal.
       However, he said the government has agreed to investigate the case and even cancel the acquisition of some medical supplies.
       He urged the society to directly tell Mr Abhisit if it had evidence showing ministers have been involved in corrupt acts.
       The society's head Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat conceded that it was difficult to get "the bills" to prove the alleged irregularities.
       However, he had the documents showing the average prices of medical equipment and construction projects under the Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength scheme were much higher than the figures used in normal projects.
       For example, Phu Kradueng Hospital built a 24-room nurse dormitory at a cost of 6.8 million baht in December last year, but a building of the same type cost as much as 9.57 million baht under the Thai Kem Kaeng scheme.
       A doctor's residence normally costs 760,000 baht, but the budget jumped to 1.89 million baht under the project.
       "This should be sufficient evidence to show that there is something fishy in this mega-spending scheme," Dr Kriengsak said.
       He called on public health officials,particularly the management of rural hospitals who were forced to follow the politicians' orders, to speak up.
       "Without information from state officials, it will be difficult to unmask politicians implicated in the alleged corruption," he said.