Thai health minister resigns in stimulus scandal

Bangkok - Thai Public Health Minister Wittaya Kaewparadai resigned Tuesday after "irregularities" were exposed in the ministry's plans for an 86-billion-baht (2.6-billion-dollar) budget that was part of an economic stimulus scheme. "I will tender my letter of resignation tomorrow to confirm that some politicians can do what the people want," Wittaya told a press conference.

Wittaya, a member of the ruling Democrat Party, was one of 11 politicians and health ministry officials linked to irregularities in projects under the government's stimulus scheme, labeled "Thailand - Investing from Strength to Strength."

A committee set up to investigate loopholes in the scheme found that the health ministry had planned several dubious investments, such as the purchase of ultraviolet sanitizing fans for state hospitals for 80,000 baht (2,424 dollars), double the normal price.

The committee also found that the ministry had unfairly allocated funds to certain provinces, such as plans for new hospitals in Ratchburi province, a relatively small province which already has four hospitals while many larger provinces only have one.

Ratchburi happens to be the political base of Deputy Health Minister Manit Nop-Amornbodi, one of the other politicians fingered by the investigation.

Manit is a member of the Bhumjai Thai Party, one of the key partners in the current coalition government led by the Democrats.

The opposition Puea Thai Party plans to lodge a no-confidence motion against the government next month.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301308,thai-health-minister-resigns-in-stimulus-scandal.html.