Poll faults Kem Kaeng scheme

       Investing from Strength to Strength)national development projects. Suan Dusit Rajabhat University conducted the poll, which questioned 3,279 people in 37 provinces between Sept 30 and Oct 2.The poll found that 50% of respondents believe the Thai Kem Kaeng project may lack transparency and fall into the hands of corrupt officials, while 26%were concerned about an alleged misuse of funds made available under the project,and almost 10% felt many projects under the scheme did not meet the needs of communities and government agencies.
       However,35% of respondents thought the programme would benefit the country as a whole, while 37% of respondents suggested the disbursement and spending of the money under the project should come under close scrutiny.
       The poll showed 17% wanted members of the public to be given a chance to monitor the project's spending.
       The Rural Doctors Foundation last week claimed there were irregularities involving the Public Health Ministry's spending of 86.6 billion baht under the Thai Kem Kaeng scheme.
       Up to 60% of the budget is being allocated to building works, purchasing medical equipment and other facilities.
       Pongthep Wongwatcharapaibul, the Rural Doctors Foundation secretarygeneral, said some projects called for the purchase of medical equipment at inflated prices and some facilities were unnecessary. For example, the cabinet approved a budget of more than 300 million baht for UV sanitisers for use at community hospitals nationwide. The foundation said the machines are overpriced and may not be suitable for use in the hospitals.
       Opposition Puea Thai Party MP for Bangkok Wicharn Meenchainant, formerly a deputy public health minister,claimed that 40 items were unnecessary and did not suit the needs of provincial hospitals.
       He called on Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai to give provincial hospitals more say in determining the choice of medical supplies they really need.
       The government's second stimulus programme, of which Thai Kem Kaeng is a part, was set to allocate 1.45 trillion baht for procurement and construction projects under various ministries over a three-year period, but on Aug 18, the cabinet cut it to 1.06 trillion baht.
       The programme is expected to create 1.5 million jobs, stimulate private consumption and a recovery in the industrial sector.