The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO)'s board has defended its decision to sack director Suvaj Siasiriwattana, saying he was unable to solve internal conflicts.
GPO board chairman Lt Gen Supakorn Sa-nguanchartsornkrai announced Dr Suvaj's dismissal at a press briefing yesterday.
It was agreed at Sunday's board meeting that Dr Suvaj was capable of working, but his efforts were not enough to achieve the organisation's key mission, said Lt Gen Supakorn.
It is necessary to find someone with the potential to improve the organisation's efficiency in every aspect, the chairman said.
Although Dr Suvaj is a good man, Lt Gen Supakorn said, he failed to tackle protracted conflicts within the organisation. A new director capable of managing people would be sought.
"Since the board started working on Aug 19, it has had to tackle some issues itself, even though this should have been the duty of GPO executives," Lt Gen Supakorn said.
"I confirm the dismissal was not related to politics," he said.
It was agreed at the meeting that Dr Suvaj's contract, signed on Sept 2 last year, would be terminated, said Lt Gen Supakorn.
The cancellation of the contract will take effect 30 days after Dr Suvaj receives the GPO board's termination letter. Dr Suvaj will be entitled to six months' salary as compensation.
The board has appointed GPO deputy director Vanicha Ghaisamran as acting director, Lt Gen Supakorn said.
A five-member panel, led by Sopawadee Lertmanutchai, was also formed to choose a new director. The process should take about three months, he said.
Asked about the qualifications needed for the new GPO director, Lt Gen Supakorn said the person must be a strong manager, able to solve internal conflicts and create unity between the agency's executives and the labour union.
Asked whether the delayed construction of an anti-influenza vaccine factory in Pathum Thani's Rangsit area featured in the decision to dismiss Dr Suvaj, the chairman said the board had assessed the bigger picture when making its decision.
An investigation will be carried out into the factory's delay, he added.
Dr Suvaj assumed the director's post following the dismissal of former director Witit Artavatkun in May last year for alleged irregularities in the procurement of drug ingredients and the delayed construction of the Rangsit factory.
Within the first week of Dr Suvaj's employment, the GPO admitted to delivering incorrectly packaged medicine to a hospital in Kanchanaburi. A batch of isosorbide dinitrate — used to treat congestive heart failure — had been mistakenly labelled as amlodopine — used to treat hypertension.
The state-run drug manufacturer later faced more criticism for failing to produce enough anti-viral drugs.
Meanwhile, eight health advocate networks have slammed Dr Suvaj for mismanaging the GPO, which resulted in a shortage of medical supplies for HIV/Aids patients.
Dr Suvaj took the GPO directorship during the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.