Published on July 16, 2005

The Public Health Ministry’s controversial Bt900-million procurement project for computer systems has been scrapped.

The project was officially scrapped after a committee of senior ministry officials concluded that there were violations in the project’s bidding process, said Dr Suchai Charoenratanakul, public health minister. The decision was made by senior officials and Dr Vichai Thienthavorn, the ministry’s permanent secretary, who had the authority to call off the controversial project without seeking approval, Suchai said.

“Since I assumed the post of minister, politics has never interfered with the bureaucrats’ work,” he said.

“Dr Vichai has acted in accordance with his authority and he has called off the procurement project. The procurement process was not in line with procurement regulations. I just took note of what the officials had decided,” Suchai said.

A new procurement process will be made through e-auction and should start within two months, he said. P Square Holdings, which had earlier won the bid, is entitled to file a lawsuit protesting the decision, he said.

“It depends on the bid winner, P Square Holdings, which will decide what to do next,” said Dr Vallop Thaineua, Democrat party-list MP and former health permanent secretary.

On Monday, Suchai said he needed more time to decide whether to call off the controversial computer procurement.

Vallop said the cancellation was based on the findings of a panel led by the ministry’s inspector general, Dr Boonlert Limthongkul.

In July last year, bidding for the project to install computers in the back office of all public hospitals made headlines after former public health minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan sacked Vallop.

Sudarat alleged that although P Square had offered the lowest bid, it planned to overcharge the ministry for maintenance services. She said Vallop had been dragging his feet over cancelling the bid.

Vallop countered that he had to consult other concerned government agencies before cancelling the bid or face a lawsuit from P Square.

Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

The Nation

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