Ministry halts UV sanitiser purchase plan

       The Public Health Ministry has ordered its offices across the Kingdom to halt the funding of UV sanitisers purchased under the government's economic stimulus scheme.
       The freeze follows complaints from the Rural Doctors Society about alleged corruption in the purchase of the equipment and other facilities involving the ministry's spending of an 86.6 billion baht fund under the Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength scheme.
       The Rural Doctors Society last week claimed there were irregularities in the ministry's spending under the scheme,saying some projects called for the purchase of medical equipment at inflated prices and some facilities were not necessary.
       It cited the approved budget of over 300 million baht for UV sanitisers for use at community hospitals nationwide.The machines are not needed. Also,the price quoted was 40,000 baht each when the market price is only 6,000 baht.
       Acting permanent secretary for public health Paijit Warachit yesterday said a letter had been sent to provincial public health offices calling a temporary halt to all purchases of UV sanitisers until the situation had been investigated.
       Dr Paijit said two committees had been set up to look into the corruption allegations.
       One chaired by public health inspector Seri Hongyok would consider if the purchases were needed.
       A deputy permanent secretary would head the other panel looking into the transparency of other medical equipment and facility purchases under the scheme.
       Preliminary results of the need for UV sanitisers for community hospitals should be completed within a week,Dr Paijit said.
       The president of the Rural Doctors Society, Kriangsak Vatcharanukulkiat,said the Ubon Ratchathani provincial health office and other provinces had announced the terms of reference for the UV sanitiser procurement.
       Meanwhile, the house committee on public health yesterday invited Dr Kriangsak to provide details of the alleged irregularities.
       Dr Kriangsak told the committee the prices of medical supplies quoted under the scheme were up to 30%above market prices in some cases.
       He also told the committee two politicians had spoken with two car companies about the zoning of the bidding for the ambulance supply contract.
       Dr Kriangsak asked for a review of the procurement plan.