Rajata wants 'white ministry'
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Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin yesterday vowed to turn his new office into "a white ministry" where corruption will be easily detected through whistleblower training.
Rajata said doctors would also communicate more with patients, leading to better patient-doctor relations and less lawsuits.
In his speech about good governance in the health profession at King Prajadhipok's Institute in Bangkok, Rajata said the ministry would become corruption free and have transparency in all procedures, especially official transfers and procurement projects.
He said that although there were many lawsuits against doctors since 1993, the number seemed to drop from 2002 to 2007.
He believed this was partially because of remedial measures aimed at patients who had been adversely affected by medical practices in accordance with Article 41 of the National Health Security Act 2002.
The lawsuits might have been the result of doctors not providing sufficient information about an illness and its treatment or not having enough time to explain the information clearly.
He wanted the doctor-patient relationship to be more caring and for patients to receive more treatment information.
Commenting on a draft legislation that would provide a fund for patients adversely affected by a medical practice, Rajata said there were still many points to discuss but he believed its implementation would help reduce lawsuits.
