Mongkol Na Songkhla
Encyclopedia
Mongkol Na Songkhla was as of January 2007 the Minister of Health for Thailand
. He was appointed by Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
and sworn into office on October 9, 2006. On February 6, 2008, he was replaced by Chaiya Sasomsab.
Notable among his measures was the making the 30-baht universal healthcare program completely free; after criticism from the The Budget Bureau, the government later cut the universal healthcare program budget from a subsidy of 2,089 baht per head, compared to the previously proposed figure of 1,899 baht. Those eligible for the subsidy were cut from 48 million to 46 million people.
Another notable measure taken while he was Minister of Health was the issuance of compulsory licenses for several patented drugs. The drugs to be covered under the compulsory license included the HIV/AIDS drugs efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir, as well as the heart disease therapeutic clopidogrel.
In addition, Mongkol proposed a broadcast ban on all alcohol advertising in Thailand
. Although this proposed ban has yet to be signed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thai broadcasters and publishers have voluntarily observed it. The ban has been criticized by advertisers and beverage companies for its stifling effect on trade.
Mongkol is a member of the na Songkhla family, who are of Thai Chinese
heritage and maintained good relations with bureaucratic elites during the 18th and 19th centuries. The na Songkhla clan traces its origin back to Chin Yiang Sae Hao, its clan founder, who migrated from Fujian province to Siam in 1750 and established political influence in Songkhla Province
.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He was appointed by Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
Surayud Chulanont
General Surayud Chulanont is a Thai political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand and head of Thailand's Interim Government between 2006 and 2008...
and sworn into office on October 9, 2006. On February 6, 2008, he was replaced by Chaiya Sasomsab.
Notable among his measures was the making the 30-baht universal healthcare program completely free; after criticism from the The Budget Bureau, the government later cut the universal healthcare program budget from a subsidy of 2,089 baht per head, compared to the previously proposed figure of 1,899 baht. Those eligible for the subsidy were cut from 48 million to 46 million people.
Another notable measure taken while he was Minister of Health was the issuance of compulsory licenses for several patented drugs. The drugs to be covered under the compulsory license included the HIV/AIDS drugs efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir, as well as the heart disease therapeutic clopidogrel.
In addition, Mongkol proposed a broadcast ban on all alcohol advertising in Thailand
Alcohol advertising in Thailand
Alcohol advertising in Thailand is effectively illegal under voluntary observance of a ban by Thai advertisers. The ostensible aim of this law is to protect people’s health and to reduce road accidents. Internet advertising is legal....
. Although this proposed ban has yet to be signed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thai broadcasters and publishers have voluntarily observed it. The ban has been criticized by advertisers and beverage companies for its stifling effect on trade.
Mongkol is a member of the na Songkhla family, who are of Thai Chinese
Thai Chinese
The Thai Chinese are an overseas Chinese community who live in Thailand. Thailand is home to the largest, oldest, most prominent, and most integrated overseas Chinese community in the world with a population of approximately 9.5 million people...
heritage and maintained good relations with bureaucratic elites during the 18th and 19th centuries. The na Songkhla clan traces its origin back to Chin Yiang Sae Hao, its clan founder, who migrated from Fujian province to Siam in 1750 and established political influence in Songkhla Province
Songkhla Province
Songkhla is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Satun, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani and Yala. To the south it borders Kedah and Perlis of Malaysia....
.