Pharmacists and govt thrash out new bill on medicines

Yesterday’s meeting was the first between Food and Drug Administration (FDA) secretary-general Dr Boonchai Somboonsuk and 25 protesting pharmacist representatives.

Pharmacy Council of Thailand president Kitti Pitaknitinan said seven major points still needed further discussion and adjustment. They would be examined article by article to meet the pharmacists’ seven point demands, plus in relation to herbal pharmacies.

There was concern that the wording might cause a misunderstanding that growers of herb plants would also be affected.

Kitti said the two parties should be able to talk and come up with suggestions for the draft bill amendment within the given two weeks. 

FDA expert Vinit Usavakidviree said that, after getting mutual agreement with the pharmacists’ network, the FDA would submit the new draft bill and amendments suggested by the pharmacists to get opinion from other related professions. Then they would submit the information to the Public Health Minister to confirm to the Council of State within the extended 30-day deadline, he said.

The FDA has categorised medicine into three types – prescription-only medicines dispensed by doctors, dentists, veterinarians, Thai traditional and Thai modified doctors; non-prescription drugs dispensed by professionals such as doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians, physiotherapists, Thai-traditional and Thai-modified practitioners; and household medicines. 

Vinit said that the new categorises may not be clear yet, but stemmed from an intention to adjust drug types to meet international standards as Thailand heads towards being part of the Asean Economic Community.