Bangkok: Only 50 out of over 100 patients at the Veterans Hospital have come forward to assist police in a drug and medical supply corruption investigation. A patient disclosed that he was involved in a scheme where he received medication during treatment and passed it on to a broker, earning 1,000 baht per transaction.
According to Thai News Agency, on March 6, 2015, a team of approximately 50 officers from various divisions, including Division 1 of the Anti-Corruption Division, the Technology Crime Suppression Division, NACC officers, and the Central Military Welfare Office, assembled at the Veterans Hospital. They brought computer equipment and documents to the conference room on the 2nd floor to gather information from patients suspected of involvement in the corruption case.
Investigators issued a summons to about 100 patients believed to be implicated after a former war veteran exposed the issue. Initial findings from four main agencies indicated that the allegations held some truth, with damages estimated at over 1.6 billion baht across eight rounds from 2017 to 2025.
Despite the summons, only about 50 patients, all from military families aged 45-70 with underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, have volunteered information. Their participation could provide crucial insights into the investigation.
A reporter interviewed one of the summoned patients, who revealed that he was contacted by an acquaintance to seek treatment at the hospital since 2024. The patient was directed to the orthopedics department, where he received prescriptions unrelated to his condition. He did not consume the medication but instead sold it to an intermediary for 1,000 baht. This patient was scheduled for follow-up appointments every three months at the hospital.