Provincial public health offices are expected to present the results of their investigations into a diet pill smuggling and distribution case to the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) within the week, department chief Dr Natthawut Prasertsiripong says.
Nine clinics have been inspected by public health offices in their respective provinces. The offices were collecting evidence in a criminal investigation into pill smuggling and distribution.
The findings of the investigation in the provinces, that include Nong Bua Lam Phu, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phitsanulok and Tak, will likely be wrapped up and presented to the DHSS by the end of this week, Dr Natthawut said.
The DHSS is tasked with determining if the clinics in question and any medical personnel working at or linked to them broke the Health Clinics Act. Offences under the act include using the facilities to supply potentially harmful drugs without permission. If so, the clinics will be stripped of their operational licences.
However, the department is not in a position to conduct a disciplinary probe against doctors.
That is the job of the Medical Council of Thailand's ethics committee, which has launched a probe into two doctors charged with being involved in the smuggling and distribution of phentermine weight loss pills.
Ittaporn Kanacharoen, secretary-general of the council, has said that the doctors, one from Nakhon Ratchasima and the other from Nong Bua Lam Phu, would be severely punished if they were found guilty. The council believes it has found clear evidence against them.
"This is a case where doctors are wrongdoers for [being linked to] drug smuggling," Dr Ittaporn said.
He said the council usually found cases of doctors illegally prescribing drugs in the name of a deceased doctor. The council could warn them, suspend their medical licences, or revoke their licences to practice.
The two doctors have been formally charged with possessing the diet pills, which were allegedly smuggled with the intent to be distributed and sold.
The Criminal Court has granted them bail set at 600,000 baht each without conditions.
The police earlier opposed bail, saying they were part of a criminal gang and posed a flight risk.
A further investigation is being carried out to find the mastermind who is believed to be running the illegal business at both domestic and international level, he said.
The council's probe follows the arrest of a gang that smuggled phentermine pills early this month.
Police arrested a female model and other suspects during a raid in Bangkok's Phatthanakan area.
They were wanted in connection with the production of unlicensed diet pills made using phentermine, a restricted psychostimulant similar to amphetamine.