Wichai suspects that foreign alcohol and cigarette firms |were behind the move to bring about the collapse of ThaiHealth, which had been campaigning heavily against drinking and smoking."Some firms have seen ThaiHealth as their nemesis," he said.
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya, however, firmly denied that."No, it's definitely not about any alcohol or cigarette firm," he said.
The board members were sacked on suspicions they had offered grants with ThaiHealth funds that were out of line with ThaiHealth's mandate.
Prayut said he had no intention of destroying ThaiHealth.
"I won't say yet whether they did right or wrong. Investigations will provide the answer," he said.