Health officials linked to equipment scam

       A senior Public Health Ministry staff member and retired officers are being linked to alleged irregularities involving the purchase of medical equipment under the government's economic stimulus scheme.
       But the preliminary findings of a ministry committee investigating suspected wrongdoings under the Thai Kem Kaeng - Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength project unveiled yesterday disappointed the Rural Doctors Society,which exposed the problems.
       Permanent secretary for public health Paijit Warachit refused to disclose the officials' names. They would be revealed only if negligence was proven, he said.
       A summary of the findings is expected to be concluded this week.
       "The [alleged] irregularities may have been intentional or due to negligence,"Mr Paijit said."We need to further investigate the issue and give them the opportunity to explain before making a conclusion and revealing the names."
       The findings of the investigating committee chaired by ministry inspector Seree Hongyok found UV sanitisers,complete blood count equipment and anaesthetic machines were unsuited to use at 30-bed district hospitals, a finding backing the claims made by the Rural Doctors Society.
       The committee found no irregularities with the need for respirators and ambulances.
       But the quoted price of the UV sanitisers, complete blood count machines,respirators and anaesthetic machines were inflated, as was the cost of building a 24-room nurses' quarters designed by the Department of Medical Support's Design and Construction Division.
       Dr Paijit said the irregularities had not yet damaged the planned 86 billion baht in spending funded under the government's economic stimulus scheme.All procurement procedures have been put on hold.
       Provincial public health chiefs, rural doctors and the directors of regular and specialist hospitals nationwide will be asked to see if any medical equipment should be excluded from the list and report to another committee chaired by ministry inspector Surachet Satitniramai.
       Also, outsiders such as representatives from the Council of Engineers and other credible agencies would be invited to revise the specifications of equipment and provide suitable quotes.
       Dr Seree said his panel did not have the authority to deliberate if any of the politicians involved in the purchase of medical equipment were guilty. Only a disciplinary panel could do that.
       A disciplinary panel is expected to be set up by the end of this month.
       Rural Doctors Society chairman Kriangsak Vatcharanukulkiat, who exposed the alleged corruption, yesterday said he was disappointed with the preliminary findings.