Minister of Commerce Sasomsab Chaiya of Thailand
Chaiya was obliged to submit a report to the NCCC chairman by March 6 as he took office on Feb 6, but he failed to do so.
Chaiya had already been under pressure after consumer and patient's rights groups petitioned Senate Speaker late last month to seek Chaiya's impeachment for his earlier decision to review the former military-appointed interim government's issuance of compulsory licenses for cheaper cancer drugs patented by foreign pharmaceutical companies.
To implement compulsory licensing and not affect international trade, Chaiya had assigned the National Health Security Office, the National Cancer Institute and health experts to calculate the total number of patients suffering from leukaemia and breast, lung and gastric cancer, which would help the ministry estimate the budget for imported drugs.
However, Chaiya said it was the duty of the Commerce minister to make the decision to revoke or retain compulsory licensing.
minister Mongkol na Songkhla were legitimate and could not be lifted.
Mr Chaiya said he received a confidential letter signed by former commerce minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet asking the new government to review the policy on compulsory licensing.
Mr Chaiya said on taking office he thought the compulsory licences might have been a politically correct decision, but legally incorrect.
You can bet your bottom dollar that this will be a long battle between the new minister and health activists, since Mr Chaiya has made it clear he puts trade benefits over public health.
Health Minister Chaiya has a duty to enforce the Alcohol Control Bill which became effective on Feb 14.
Mr Chaiya said Thai exports to the United States were still forecast to grow by 7% this year but the sting of the financial crisis would be felt next year, when growth is expected to drop to 3.
On July 9, the Constitution Court ruled that Mr Chaiya had broken the assets declaration law by failing to disclose his wife's shareholdings in a private company within 30 days of his appointment.
Mr Chaiya has the right to interpret the law to serve his purpose.
Mr Chaiya's track record, short as it is, has been less than impressive.
Mr Chaiya was stripped of his portfolio on July 9 after the Constitution Court ruled he had broken assets declaration rules by failing to disclose his wife's shares in excess of 5% in a private company within 30 days of his appointment.
In return, Mr Chaiya was awarded the top-rated public health portfolio.
But there is another reason Mr Chaiya is confident he will return to the cabinet.
Mr Chaiya said he had been tempted by former colleagues to leave the embattled PPP for other parties, fearing Mr Thaksin's men could face charges of wrongdoing.
Mr Chaiya said he could be named minister at any moment, since he is not prohibited from holding a political post for five years as were his former colleagues earlier punished by the Constitution Court for electoral rigging.
Given speculation that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent, Mr Chaiya said he expects to be given one of a few ministerial seats which are up for grabs by PPP members.
Mr Chaiya said nobody hates him so much he would have to flee the political scene for the rest of his life.
As for his critics, especially the physicians who came out strongly against him on the compulsory licensing issue, Mr Chaiya said he had offered them explanations and defended himself from allegations, but only a few really listened.
Mr Chaiya said earlier that the price could be as high as 15,000 baht a tonne for regular paddy and 19,000 baht for jasmine rice paddy.
Chaiya said the government would not sell rice bought during the latest 2008 scheme, when it paid 14,000 baht per tonne, as it did not want losses.
Chaiya had also been a source of extreme controversy in recent weeks, suggesting to halt a generic drug programme that provides low-cost treatment to people with AIDS and cancer.
Chaiya said the Thai government could put on hold its plan to release 2.
Chaiya said the government had no plan to extend the current buying scheme that is due to expire on September 30.
Mr Chaiya said the ministry was increasingly confident that easing oil prices together with the government's six-month anti-inflation measures and the latest promise by manufacturers would help rein in the inflationary pressure.
Mr Chaiya said he does not know which post he will be assigned, but he would like to continue his duty at the Ministry of Commerce, noting that the decision is up to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
Mr Chaiya said on his first day in office that he would cancel the CL policy on drug patents initiated by the previous Surayud Chulanont government.
Chaiya had ordered the policy review shortly after a democratically-elected government took power in February, saying the idea of issuing compulsory licenses was a politically correct decision, but not legally correct.
Chaiya is gambling on higher future rice prices? Or does anyone really know what Mr.
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Mr Chaiya says the second group of physicians is better prepared than the first one as they have learned more about Myanmars needs.
The National Counter Corruption Commission ruled that Chaiya had failed to declare his wife's 5 per cent stake in a publicly listed company in his family's assets declaration made on March 6, an oversight that is punishable by dismissal.