The Public Health Ministry, has defended its minister, Somsak Thepsuthin’s veto of the Medical Council’s resolution to discipline three doctors, and accused those who disagree with his decision of being biased against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Treechada Srithada, said that criticism of Somsak, by people like People’s party MP Rangsiman Rome, Senator Praphon Tangsrikiatikul and Nantiwat Samart, former deputy director of the National Intelligence Agency, is not surprising.
She claimed that these individuals have been vindictive towards Thaksin and opposed to the Pheu Thai party, as well as the red-shirt movement, for the past 20 years and remain so, regardless of changes in Thai society.
Treechada alleged that this bias also exists among some members of the Medical Council, which is unacceptable, and they should be subjected to an investigation so that disciplinary action can be taken.
Due to the alleged bias, she concluded that the Medical Council’s sanctioning of the three doctors, responsible for the former prime minister’s stay at the Police General Hospital, may not be fair or honest.
She stressed that Somsak did not force or intimidate any council members to agree with his decision, as the council can uphold its ruling if it can muster the support of two-thirds of its members.
