An upset Saengchai Haelertrakul, better known as Mor Saeng, has threatened to stop providing herbal medicines for cancer patients after health authorities said he is not a registered folk healer.
He made the threat on Tuesday after the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) director-general Kiattibhoom Vongrachit said Mr Saengchai is not officially registered as a folk healer, so could not call himself one.
Dr Kiattibhoom said the department was in the process of examining documents recently received from Mr Saengchai with signatures of at least 10 local residents and his local administrative organisation verifying that he had lived in the area for more than 10 years.
As the process was not complete, Mr Saengchai could not yet call himself a folk healer, the department chief said.
The department chief's remark upset Mr Saengchai, a provincial electricity authority official in Prachin Buri province.
Mr Saengchai, dubbed Mor Saeng, said he had sought registration as a folk healer several times, but his request went unheard.
On Jan 5 this year, he had sent a letter to the DTAM asking they follow up the case, but there was no progress, he said.
On Jan 29, the department had sent a letter seeking additional documents. On Feb 3, the department again asked for additional documents, said Mr Saengchai, adding he had given all the documents he had to the department.
He wondered why the department chief had to make such a remark. He had already complied with the department’s requirements.
He went without sleep to produce herbal medicines. Cancer patients pinned their hopes on being able to receive the medicines in March.
As the department was ambiguous on his request, he may not provide the medication in March. He would make his decision known after Feb 20.
“I will give it (the herbal medicine formula) to anyone wanting to get rich. Go register the patent overseas. I will give everything. I don’t want to quarrel with anyone. I am fed up with the bureaucratic system,’’ Mor Saeng said.
