The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 592
“Medicines are double-edged weapons. During a meeting last week, officials found that fake medicines are strongly invading Cambodia. The Ministry of Health, the parent or the administrator of this sector,] has not any significant achievements responding to the size or the spread of fake medicine trafficking, or of unqualified medicines.
“The Cambodian government created central and provincial committees to eliminate fake medicines and illegal health services in 2005. So far, by late 2008, the highest health institution has changed ministers, from Minister Nuth Sokhom to Minister Mam Bunheng, but there is no positive change in the prevention of fake medicines’ trafficking. Moreover, the fact that there is not much debate about the problem, means that it is an opportunity for fake medicines to extend their influence.
“It is reported that not much is done to curb the use and the speculation with fake medicines in the provinces, while at the central level, it is completely quiet. During more than three years, the central committee met only once in 2006, after there had been some encouragement from non-government organizations.
“How many types of fake medicines has the Ministry of Heath found? Where do those types of fake medicines come from? What are they? Was information about them was published for the public? Were warnings published in time? Or are they first waiting until the merchants have sold all medicine, only then publish something in order to make a good impression in the public? Did the central committee create strategic plans to handle this problem? If it did, were evaluations conducted? How many times was information about the results given to the Royal Government?
“The import of fake medicines into the country causes countless losses. Fake medicines do not care whether they affect ministers, parliamentarians, doctors, customs officers, police, the rich, the poor, soldiers, teachers etc… Not only the users are affected, but also those who are not users may have problems.
“Health experts said that the Cambodian Mine Action Center tries to clear mines, traffic police try to enforce traffic laws, civil society organizations try to appeal to demand the protection through the resoect of human rights…, but fake medicines are more cruel than mines and more dangerous than traffic accidents along the roads; it is a serious abuse of human rights… But no one is interested in such danger, including the expert institution – the Ministry of Health. It is not because the expert institution does not know about it, but it is suspected that it is – because benefit sharing with medicine companies – the central committee now keeps silent. [Also, because the relevant ministries did not respond.]
“Unlike the quietness of the central committee, other institutions focus on this dangerous problem. Non-government organizations and international organizations, like INTERPOL, had encouraged the central committee to be active again, but it seems it has no effect.
“Besides fake medicines, a big danger are also the many illegal clinics [clinics operating without license];tese too harm citizens’ health. Illegal clinics are not just like persons who sell drugs secretly so that police cannot see it, but these are illegal clinics with big banners along main roads in cities and in various towns. Therefore, if the Ministry of Health has the intention to check these illegal clinics, it is not difficult. But it seems that the Ministry of Health has no intention to do so. It is said that expert officials of the Ministry of Health receive thousands of dollar monthly from those illegal clinics.
“Not just illegal clinics need to pay monthly bribe-fees to officials of the Ministry of Health, even for the imports of material it is necessary to pay to official of the Ministry of Health. To sum up, officials of the Ministry of Health know the evil merchants of fake medicines and those illegal clinics like their own palm.
“It is expected that the Minister of Health, Mr. Mam Bunheng, will be strong enough to solve the two important problems mentioned above, in order for Cambodia to join the efforts to alleviate poverty together with the Royal Government of Cambodia.” Chakraval, Vol.16, #2836, 23.12.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Chakraval, Vol.16, #2836, 23.12.2008
- Fake Medicines Are Invading Cambodia while the Ministry of Health Keeps Quiet
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1827, 23.12.2008
- [41] Important Leaders of Funcinpec Rush to Join the Cambodian People’s Party like Water from a Broken Dam
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen: Nine Other Countries Should Have Proper Solutions so that ASEAN Meeting Is Not Delayed
Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #165, 23.12.2008
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Asks Local Fuel Companies to Further Reduce Prices [at presents the gasoline price is around Riel 3,100, corresponding to approx. US$0.77 per liter]
- Lawyer of Samdech Krom Preah [Norodom Ranariddh] Demands Moneaksekar Khmer to Show Evidence, otherwise He Will Sue the Newspaper [his lawyer demands to show the name list of more than 200 officials, about which the pro-Sam Rainsy Party Moneaksekar Khmer had said that the list was suggested by the prince to the King, to assign them to the Royal palace]
- A Security Guard of the Shukaku Company Hurt a Citizen with a Samurai Sword [because he got angry with Boeng Kak citizens who argued against the security guard who threatened them to leave the region of the Boeng Kak lake soon]
- Mine Clearance in Cambodia Needs Ten Years More
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3646, 23.12.2008
- After Net Savoeun Took the Position of Director of the National Police, Security in the Society Is Still Worrying
- Co-Lawyer [Ang Udom] of [former Khmer Rouge leader] Ieng Sary Threatens to Create His Own Website after the Tribunal Did Not Accept to Publish His Notes about the History
fa
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4775, 23.12.2008
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Cautions Those Who Talk about Military Secrets
- New Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs [Kasit Piromya – กษิต ภิรมย์] Considers the Solving of Border Disputes with Cambodia as a Priority
- Mr. Keng Vannsak Died at the Age of 83 [in Paris, on 18 December 2008 – born in Kompong Chhnang, he is the Khmer linguist scholar who created the first university of Khmer Literature, and he designed the layout of the Khmer-language typewriter keyboard, and he suggested also a system to create modern Khmer-language words. His funeral will be held on 23 December 2008]
- A Kompong Thom Fishery Administration Officer Is Killed by Breaking His Skull [perpetrators not identified]
Samdech Prime Minister Appeals to Citizens to Wear Safety Helmets while Driving Motorbikes - The Number of Khmer Workers in Malaysia and Thailand Declined [from 3,219 in 2007 to 2,654 in 2008 for Malaysia, and from 5,670 to 4,000 for Thailand], but the Number going to Korea and to Japan Increased [from 95 in 2007 to more than 2,400 in 2008 to Korea, and from 3 to 39 going to Japan]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3461, 23.12.2008
Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.
And please recommend us also to your colleagues and friends.
Back to top
Recent Comments