Analysis of Competent Officials’ Roles Under the Laws on the Responsibility of Department of Consumer Protection and Public Health Pharmacy, Udon Thani Provincial Public Health Office

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the situation on law enforcement of the Department of Consumer Protection and Public Health Pharmacy (CPPHP), Udon Thani Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) and  to compare the role of competent officials under the relevant laws. Methods: This study was documentary research conducted by reviewing the laws on consumer protection under the responsibility of the Department of CPPHP, Udon Thani PPHO, and reviewing research regarding legal roles and responsibilities of competent officials.  Legal roles and responsibilities were then compared to the practice of the officials in Udon Thani PPHO. Results: Thirteen laws on the protection of consumer health were under the responsibility of the Department of CPPHP. At the provincial level, Provincial Chief Public Health Physician and Pharmacists in the Department of CPPHP have been the competent officials. At district level, public health administrators at district level and pharmacists responsible for consumer protection in community hospitals have been appointed as competent officials. The competent officials should be further empowered in searching in the Drug Act, Food Act and Medical Device Act. Moreover, the empowerment should extended to include the announcement of test results, product recall and destroying in Food Act, Cosmetics Act, Psychotropic Substance Act and Hazardous Substances Act in order to improve the  efficiency of consumer protection. The performance of duties by competent officers could be divided into two types i.e., routine surveillance and the examination according to complaints or litigation. Total number of routine surveillance during the fiscal year 2556, 2557 and 2558 were 1,343, 1,258 and 1,320 times, respectively. Total number of examination according to complaints or litigation during the fiscal year 2556, 2557 and 2558 were 95, 86 and 71 times respectively. Three most employed authorities In the execution of duties were inspection, product collection and seizure. The Acts with the most compliant and litigation in the past 3 years were Food Act, Sanatorium Act, and Drug Act accounting for 37.7, 35.7 and 26.6% of the cases, respectively.  The execution upon the complaints or litigation was limited to the authorities at the provincial level because those at district level were not confident in their knowledge, capabilities and safety. Conclusion: In order to effectively enforce the law in a timely fashion, the integration of working among the major regulatory agencies within the Ministry of Health and with those in relevant ministries is crucial, together with the revision of the law on the empowerment of competent officials and their qualification. Moreover, extensive training of competent officials in the area of knowledge and practice to increase their confidence, together with the setting of their compensation appropriate to high risk associated with duty execution are mandatory.