BANGKOK: -- The Consumer Foundation will submit 20,000 signatures collected from members of public across the country to ask the Upper House to impeach the Public Health Minister, Chaiya Sasomsap

The foundation's manager, Saree Ongsomwang said Chaiya was accused of losing the country Bt2.4 million by revising the compulsory license for four cancer drugs in March.

His announcement caused the drug company that manufactures Clopidogrel used to treat heart disease to delay export of its first batch of the drug to Thailand.

Chaiya had violated the Constitution because he had revised the compulsory licensing of the four drugs before the government stated its policy to Parliament. He also transferred the top health official involved in the compulsory licensing without reason.

Saree said Chaiya's behaviour was an obstacle for the health system and health promotion for Thai people and this was the reason why the consumer network will submit the petition to the president of the Senate on May 15th

"We hope that the 20,000 signatures can impeach him and will be a good opportunity for the Prime Minister to consider a Cabinet reshuffle," she said.

"If Chaiya is transferred to another ministerial position our petition to Upper House will be ineffective. We are not worried because some of the accusations are still effective, particularly the damage that he has done to the country and we could then submit our petition to the National Counter Corruption Commission " she added.

--The Nation 2008-05-12