Probe into life-saving drug sought

Boonchai Somboonsuk, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration and a member of the board of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), said recently that several board members have proposed the setting up of a fact-finding committee to look into the matter.

According to a GPO board resolution, this lot of Clopidogrel will be distributed to the National Health Security Office (NHSO) for use in its scheme. 

NHSO spokesman Atthaporn Limpanyalert said Clopidogrel, which can inhibit blood clots and is used by heart patients especially stent users, is usually procured under compulsory licensing by the GPO before delivery to the NHSO. 

“We make a purchase contract for the medicine with the GPO every year,” he said. However, one lot had quality problems and had to be returned and replaced. 

“We have been informed that the GPO was worried that the new lot from its supplier in India might not arrive in time, so it decided to buy a lot from a Thai firm. After the purchase was made, the legal team of the GPO warned that the lot could constitute a legal violation. This firm is not covered in the L/C contract,” Atthaporn said.

“That’s why the lot had been kept at the GPO for a long time.”