[Ip-health] BangPost story directly linking firing of Thai FDA head to support for CLs

[Sarah Rimmington]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Feb2008_news05.php
FDA chief removed in Health shake-up
Siriwat seen as backing compulsory licensing

APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL


Secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Siriwat
Tiptaradol has been transferred to an inactive post in a move observers
see as linked to the compulsory licensing (CL) policy.

Mr Siriwat is the second senior official to be suddenly moved from his
position by the government.

Sunai Manomai-udom was moved from the head of the Department of Special
Investigation to a less important position by Justice Minister Sompong
Amornwiwat last Friday.

Dr Siriwat's transfer was made by Public Health Minister Chaiya
Sasomsab, who oversees the FDA, and was approved by the cabinet with
immediate effect. It also involves two other officials.

Dr Siriwat was appointed a ministry inspector and his position at the
FDA given to Chatree Banchuen, director-general of the Medical Services
Department. Ministry inspector Raywat Visruthvej replaces Dr Chatree at
the department.

Dr Siriwat's removal comes as little surprise as he was seen as a close
aide to former public health minister Mongkol na Songkhla, who approved
compulsory licensing to bypass patents on Aids, heart and cancer drugs.


Dr Siriwat was directly involved in the CL policy as he was appointed by
Dr Mongkol to chair a panel working on negotiating drug prices with
pharmaceutical companies.

However, Mr Chaiya said the transfer of Dr Siriwat had nothing to do the
former government's policy on compulsory licensing.

''The reason for this transfer was only to improve the working of the
ministry. I do not personally love or hate anyone in particular,'' he said.

Mr Chaiya indicated that the change was linked to delayed inquiries
handled by the FDA into illegal energy drinks and unhygienic imported
pork meat.

The minister said Dr Siriwat's move would not obstruct his planned
negotiations on cancer drug prices listed for patent bypassing. He
believed Dr Chatree capable of meeting the demands of the FDA's top post.

Dr Chatree was allegedly involved in a 900-million-baht computer scandal
at the ministry when Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan was minister. She is
one of the 111 Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party executives subsequently banned
from politics for five years.

Dr Chatree, who was then public health inspector, chaired the bidding
for the computer procurement contract in 2003. He allegedly revoked the
bidding results without sufficient grounds.

He faces no punishment even though the investigation findings by the
disciplinary panel reported he was implicated in the case.

Health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirote and Dr Siriwat declined
to comment on the transfer, but Dr Chatree said he was surprised by his
transfer to the FDA.

A source at the ministry said Mr Chaiya had decided to appoint officials
who previously supported the TRT to work closely with him.

While Khunying Sudarat was at the helm of the ministry, Dr Chatree was
appointed director-general of medical services and Dr Raywat
director-general of health services support.

Kriangsak Vacharanukulkiat, chairman of the Rural Doctors Society,
suspected the sudden move of Dr Siriwat to an inactive position was
linked to the CL policy.

Dr Kriangsak said the minister had not asked for information from Dr
Siriwat when he made his decision to review the licences on four cancer
drugs, even though he was heading negotiations with the international
drug firms.

''Dr Siriwat's move clearly shows that the health minister doesn't want
to continue the CL policy, or stand for the people as he has claimed,''
he said.

''The public should watch closely if the Public Health Ministry reverses
the compulsory licences on cancer drugs,'' he said.

Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, urged Dr
Siriwat to submit the case to the Administrative Court for what she felt
was an unfair transfer and abuse of power.

She said Vichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical
Organisation board chairman and chairman of the compulsory licensing
committee from the very beginning might be the next to go.

Nimit Tienudom, chairman of the Aids Access Foundation, said the
minister did not make a smart move in transferring the FDA
secretary-general outside the usual reshuffle period.

''This unfair transfer of a good civil servant is a ticking time bomb
for the health minister himself,'' he said.

--
Sarah Rimmington
Attorney
Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 387-8030
Cell: (202) 422-2687
www.essentialaction.org/access/