Doctor, dissident and now candidate: Dr Supat fighting for his political life

At first glance, it seems a fatal blow has been dealt to Dr Supat Hasuwannakit’s hopes for election as a People’s Party candidate in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province. However, the leading public health defender remains defiant, even using the setback to his advantage.

“Now there’s an even better reason to vote for me,” Supat announced, reacting to news that the Public Health Ministry’s civil-service subcommittee had voted to dismiss him.

The former Rural Doctor Society (RDS) chief was accused of breaching the law by purchasing COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) in four batches instead of a single purchase at the pandemic’s height in 2021, raising questions that he deliberately ensured each batch was valued at less than 2 million baht so that he could approve it himself.

The total value of the purchase, made when Supat was director of Chana Hospital in Songkhla, was less than 8 million baht.

The purchased kits were reportedly used to support COVID-19 screenings in Bangkok on three occasions between July and August 2021.

More than 20,000 tested positive, allowing authorities to isolate the infected and take other health measures to stem the contagion and save lives. Vaccines and ATKs were in short supply at the time, leading to a high fatality rate from the virus.

The January 22 vote on Supat’s case was reportedly deadlocked before the panel’s chairman, Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat of Bhumjaithai Party, voted for dismissal.

The dismissal - if confirmed by another committee - will be made retroactive and could predate Supat’s resignation to enter politics.

The Constitution bars sacked civil servants from running for election, meaning Supat now faces potential disqualification as a candidate.

He responded by alleging a conspiracy to dismiss him and sabotage his election hopes.

“This move is politically motivated. I have really done nothing wrong,” he said, adding that the procurement of ATKs was necessary to combat a public health emergency.

Supat has been a vocal opponent of Bhumjaithai’s cannabis policy, as well as criticising its handling of November’s flood disaster in Songkhla.

“Please vote for me, because if I’m elected, I will urgently tackle shady practices within the Public Health Ministry,” he said.

Strong contender

In a recent survey of voters by Songkhla Rajabhat University, Supat (26.57%) ranked a close second to the Democrat Party’s Juree Numkaew (27.27%) in the race for Songkhla’s constituency 2. Bhumjaithai’s Sarttra Sripan was third with 21.45%.

The survey was conducted before the vote to dismiss Supat, which now hangs in the balance following reports that some committee members are seeking a review.

However, Assoc Prof Bukhoree Yeema, who helped conduct the survey, believes the panel’s 4:3 decision may have inadvertently tipped the race in Supat’s favour.

“News like this can influence voters at the last minute,” he said.

The Public Health Ministry has denied accusations that Supat is being politically targeted, saying the doctor had been under investigation for several years and the dismissal order was just one of many disciplinary actions against him considered at the recent meeting.

Career before politics

Supat’s passion for public service began even before he entered his career in the mid-1990s. Inspired by the motto "The Honour of Chula is the Honour of Serving the Public", while studying medicine at Chulalongkorn University, he led community outreach trips as president of the university volunteer association.

As Student Council president in 1992, he led his peers in pro-democracy protests against the bloody Black May crackdown.

That year, he was also named secretary-general of the Student Foundation of Thailand in recognition of his efforts for national development.

He graduated two years later and headed back to his hometown, Songkhla, on the southern border, to launch his medical career.

After working as a doctor at several state hospitals in the South, he was appointed director of Sabayoi Hospital in 1995, before moving on to lead Chana Hospital four years later.

He initiated several health and environment-related public projects, while also protesting government projects over potential environmental and public health impacts, including a coal-fired power plant in Songkhla’s Thepha district.

When COVID hit, Supat strongly criticised the government’s handling of the pandemic, lambasting it for the mass purchase of the controversial Sinovac vaccine from China.

He also spoke out against Bhumjaithai’s flagship policy of cannabis legalisation, drawing the ire of its leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, who was public health minister during the COVID pandemic and currently serves as acting prime minister.

Supat has said his instinct to speak out against injustice has often landed him in trouble.

He was transferred from Chana Hospital three years ago after criticising authorities, despite having forged strong ties with local residents. Now, that same outspokenness may have raised a formidable obstacle on his path to Parliament.