Part of the announcement praising the Rural Doctor Movement
”…Their achievement is the establishment of a system that ensures equal access to health care for all and prevents corruption in health care administration.…“
Part of the announcement praising the Rural Doctor Movement is the prevention of corruption in the administrative system of the (Ministry of Public Health).
This message was recorded in an article. I would like to present some parts to the public.
Five decades of the Thai Rural Doctor movements: from improving rural health systems to reforming the health system and the nation
Dr. Choochai Supawongse. President , Rural Doctor Foundation.
“……Dr. Yongyos Thammawut, Chairperson of the Rural Doctor Society at the time, showed professional ethics and courage by making public statements on the abnormally-priced medicine and supplies to inform Thai society…”
[3.4. The Third Decade: Anti-Corruption Actions (the 1.4 Billion THB Medicine Scandal), Health Systems Reform, and the Births of ThaiHealth and the NHSO (1997-2007)
3.4.1) When a corruption scandal involving purchases of medicine and medical supplies at abnormal prices in 1998 with the total amount of more than 1.4 billion THB, junior doctors and pharmacists at community hospitals nationwide who refused to comply with orders from their superiors to purchase medicine and supplies priced at 50% to 300% the normal amount decided to stage an action on behalf of the Rural Doctor Society and the
Rural Pharmacist Society. These young professionals gathered facts to present to the executives at the Ministry of Public Health, but actions were not adequately taken. Later, Dr. Yongyos Thammawut, Chairperson of the Rural Doctor Society at the time, showed professional ethics and courage by making public statements on the abnormally-priced medicine and supplies to inform Thai society. With increasing disclosure of corruption and support from senior doctors and 30 public health non-governmental organizations, there was adequate pressure for executives in the Ministry of Public Health to establish a committee to investigate facts.
In the meanwhile, a network of 30 non-governmental organizations used mechanisms for the audit of politicians that existed in the new constitution to petition 50,000 citizens and call for the removal of politicians and senior officials involved in the medicine scandal. This pressure resulted in the resignation of Public Health Minister Rakkiat Sukthana and Assistant Public Health Minister Thirawat Siriwansanon from the Social Action Party
