Ministry bans officials from joining rally

The Public Health Ministry has vowed to stop its officials from joining a rally led by the Rural Doctors Society and its allies calling on the government to dismiss minister Pradit Sinthawanarong.
The demonstration is due to be held outside Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s home next week.
Meanwhile, the society’s president Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat has threatened to file a lawsuit against the ministry in the Administrative Court if he is stopped from attending the rally.
Reports say that Pheu Thai Party has asked to speak to members of the Rural Doctors’ Society today in a bid to prevent possible clashes as pro-government red-shirt Bangkokians are also planning to go there and protect Yingluck’s home. However, the location of their meeting was not revealed.
On Tuesday, the ministry sent an official letter to all provincial public health chiefs, especially in the Northeast provinces of Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mahasarakham and Roi-Et.
The letter calls on them to prohibit officials as well as medical workers from taking leave to join the protest, which will be held from June 5 to 7.
“They should only be allowed to take leave if it is very necessary,” the ministry’s Division 7 inspector, Dr Apichai Mongkol said.
As per the letter, the ministry has cancelled all meetings in Bangkok scheduled for next week in order to prevent health officials from joining the demonstration.
The demonstration aims to pressure Yingluck into cancelling the Cabinet resolution that allows the Public Health Ministry to base additional allowances on the pay-for-performance or P4P scheme, as well as dismiss Pradit from his ministerial post.
The rally will be joined by a patients’ network.
Khon Kaen public health office chief Dr Kimhan Yongrattanakit said he would not allow any of its officials – including Kriangsak – to take leave and join the demonstration.
“They will face disciplinary punishment if they ask for leave and are later seen joining the demonstration,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kriangsak said he had already written to Kimhan asking for leave and if his leave request is rejected, he will file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court.
Kimhan, meanwhile, said he had not received Kriangsak’s letter.
“If Kriangsak’s leave request is not reasonable and he appears at next week’s demonstration, he will face disciplinary action,” he said.
The ministry’s permanent-secretary Dr Narong Sahamethaphat expressed concern about a group of kidney patients who will be joining the rally, saying they will be placing themselves at risk.