GPO unionists threaten to sue Pradith
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The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO)'s labour union Tuesday vowed to file a lawsuit against Public Health Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong and his ministerial secretary Kamol Bandaiphet for damaging the reputation of the state drug maker, call
The move comes after Pradith on Monday warned that those accusing him of wrongdoing could face libel lawsuits.
Rawai Phuphakha, president of the GPO's labour union, said Pradith had damaged the reputation of the state drug maker by asking his ministerial secretary Kamol to submit a petition to the Department of Special Investigation to probe for irregularities in the import and stockpile of raw materials to produce paracetamol, and the delay in the flu vaccine plant’s construction.
“ Even if Pradith wanted to investigate irregularities taking place within the GPO, he should not have made it public, destroying the reputation of the state drug maker,” he said.
Also, he said, Kamol had told the media the raw material to produce paracetamol was tainted.”This was a plan to discredit and weaken the state drug maker,” he said.
Instead of going public through the media, Pradith should have set up a committee to investigate these irregularities.
Rawai was speaking at a seminar entitled, “The killing of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and the disaster for country and people,” organised by GPO's labour union.
About 800 state enterprise workers attended the meeting.They vowed to join the Rural Doctors Society’s protest before Yingluck's house on June 6, demanding she sack Pradith from his ministerial position.
Since becoming minister on November 2, Pradith designated Dr Pipat Yingseri, former secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, as the new president of GPO's executive board. Pipat replaced the former president Dr Narongsak Angkhasuwapala who had a good relationship with the employees.
Rawai said Pipat had asked GPO staff to set up a personal working room for him and provide all information about the procurement of GPO.
“Pipat was working like a director, even though he is president of GPO's executive board,” he said.
