Dr Supat Hasuwankit, a vocal public health critic and former director of Saba Yoi District Hospital in Songkhla province, has been dismissed from the civil service for alleged corruption in the procurement of COVID-19 ATK test kits in 2021.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said today that the ministry’s civil service commission had resolved to dismiss Dr Suphat at a meeting last Thursday, after a fact-finding committee had faulted him over the procurement of ATK test kits.
He maintains that the investigation and decision-making processes were straight-forward, without outside interference, and were not politically motivated, adding that Dr Suphat has the right to appeal against his dismissal.
An outspoken critic of government, the doctor accused it in May 2021 of concealing information about the acquisition of Astra Zeneca anti-COVID vaccine from South Korea for the country’s mass vaccination program.
Commenting on Dr Suphat’s dismissal, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who was public health minister during the COVID outbreak in 2021, denied that he had anything to do with the doctor’s dismissal, insisting that it is an internal matter for the Public Health Ministry.
Dr. Suphat had already resigned from government service to contest the February 8 general election in Constituency 2 of Songkhla province, under the banner of the People’s party.
Recently, he joined Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the de facto leader of the People’s party, in demanding that the government speed up payment of compensation to flood victims in Hat Yai district.
