PGH’s chief doctor transferred to inactive post at RTP head office
Police General Hospital chief Dr Thaweesilp Vejvitarn moved to inactive post after licence suspension over Thaksin’s fake illness case.
The chief doctor of the Police General Hospital (PGH) has been transferred to an inactive post after his medical licence was suspended in connection with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s fake illness that enabled his long stay at the hospital.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) commissioner-general Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet signed an urgent order transferring Pol Lt Gen Dr Thaweesilp Vejvitarn, PGH’s chief doctor, to an inactive post at the RTP head office. His medical licence was suspended for six months by the Medical Council.
In the order, Kitrat noted that as Thaweesilp’s licence had been suspended, he must cease performing any medical duties. The order also stated that Thaweesilp was facing an investigation for alleged dereliction of duty as a police officer.
The Medical Council’s ruling, dated May 8 2025, suspended Thaweesilp’s licence for six months from October 1 2025. The RTP had already set up a fact-finding committee on July 24 to probe him for alleged dereliction of duty. Kitrat said allowing Thaweesilp to remain in his post could damage the hospital.
The order appointed Pol Lt Gen Paibul Jiam-anukulkij, a PGH doctor, as acting chief doctor from October 1 2025 to March 31 2026.
On May 8, the Medical Council resolved to punish three doctors over Thaksin’s treatment at PGH:
- Dr Ruamthip Suphanan of the Prison Hospital, who received a formal warning.
- Pol Lt Gen Dr Sopnarush Singhajaru, former PGH chief doctor, now Assistant Commissioner-General of the RTP, whose licence was suspended.
- Pol Lt Gen Dr Thaweesilp Vejvitarn, the current PGH chief doctor, whose licence was also suspended.
Although the ruling was initially vetoed by the then public health minister, the council reaffirmed it on June 12, citing that Sopnarush and Thaweesilp had provided inaccurate details of Thaksin’s medical condition to justify his prolonged stay at PGH.
The Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to one year in prison after ruling that he faked illness to avoid jail and remain at the Police General Hospital for six months.
