Seven members of a committee reviewing alleged malfeasance at the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) have quit, saying they lack trust in the panel's objectivity.
Discord flared up after the seven members, who are all health activists or GPO labour union representatives, claimed Public Health Minister Pradit Sintawanarong reneged on an agreement made during tripartite talks on June 6.
At the talks, the ministry, the GPO union and health activists agreed to set up a committee to review alleged irregularities at the GPO.
The allegations led to the dismissal of GPO chief Witit Artavatkul in May.
The committee was later set up with 15 members - eight representing the Public Health Ministry and the GPO board, and seven representing activists, academics and the GPO labour union.
The latter camp said they were disappointed when they learned recently that the agenda for the panel's first meeting was based on "clarifying and listening to the facts of GPO chief [Witit]'s dismissal".
"Listening can't bring the truth out," said panel member Jiraporn Limpananont, a representative from the Office of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council.
Siriwat Tiptaradol, also a panel member and a former public health deputy permanent secretary, said it appeared the purpose of the committee was not to re-investigate the allegations.
GPO labour union president Rawai Phupaka, also a panel member, said the committee lacked the power to overrule previous investigation results, so there was no point in him staying in it.
Dr Witit was sacked in May following an investigation by the Department of Special Investigation which implicated him in price collusion and negligence in the delayed construction of a 1.4-billion-baht vaccine factory.