Campaign to raise questions over GPO chief's sacking
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A health advocacy group Monday kicked off its campaign to protest the sacking of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO)'s chief Witit Artavatkun.
Deputy Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew will Tuesday ask for Cabinet’s approval for the sacking of Witit. The move comes after Public Health Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong on Friday signed an official letter ordering Chonlanan to take up this issue for the consideration of Cabinet.
The advocacy group launched an online petition to collect the signatures and opinions from members of the public who oppose the decision made by GPO's executive board on Friday to fire managing director Witit Artavatkun due to his ‘negligence in not protecting the state drug maker.’
Witit was sacked over alleged irregularities in the procurement of raw material to produce paracetamol and the delayed construction of an influenza vaccine factory and an HIV/Aids drug plant.
“The decision to fire Witit was made too quickly by GPO's executive board. The investigation into the alleged irregularity was not fair. The board did not give a chance for Witit to give his testimony,” Saree Ongsomwang, a secretary-general of the Foundation For Consumers, said.
Monday some 60 people had agreed with the group and signed the online petition via www.change.org.
