Overpriced Medicines.

Many community hospitals had bought drugs and medical kits at exorbitant prices on the orders of officials involved in the medical supplies scam. According to the Counter Corruption Commission.

Several other hospitals were also forced to stock up overpriced drugs enough for use for as long as 19 years although they were due to expire in three years.

It quoted many local hospital directors as testifying to the probe team that the drugs and medical kits bought by their hospitals were highly overpriced, and that some hospitals were ordered to buy more than necessary.

"The public health office of Phangnga sent 1,956 450-cc bottles of Alumina Magnisia produced by the Government Pharmaceutical organisation to Kapong Hospital although the hospital needs only 100 bottles of the drug per year."

The director of a Khon Kean Hospital said in the report: "I asked representatives of a drug supplier in Khon Kean to check the prices of medical supplies. When compared with the price list obtained (from the ministry), I found the prices of many items were 2-30 times more than previously offered by the firm."

In the Chachoengsao case, the prices of medical kits sent to Sanamchaikhet Hospital were unusually high. For example, the provincial public health office paid 670 baht for a pair of five-inch stainless forceps, which normally costs only 150 baht.

In Nakhon Pathom, officials testified that a surgical mask, usually priced at 15 baht, was bought at 120 baht. A surgical cap was priced at 150 baht instead of the usual 15 baht.