Pol. Col. Tawee Opposes Draft ThaiHealth Act Sin Tax Overhaul

Khaosod•Politics•5d ago

Reader Briefing

Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong and Prachachat Party representatives received a petition from 29 Southern Border organizations opposing a draft law that would change the ThaiHealth funding mechanism.

•29 organizations from the Southern Border provinces submitted an open letter to Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong opposing the draft ThaiHealth Act proposed by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul and team.
•The draft law seeks to replace the 2% sin tax funding from liquor and tobacco with an annual government budget allocation.
•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong stated that over 90% of the public oppose the draft according to initial public hearing results.
•The Prachachat Party intends to have its MPs debate the pros and cons of the draft in the House of Representatives if it is not withdrawn.

Overview

•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Mr. Kamolsak Leevama, and Mr. Kuheng Yaoahasun received an open letter from 29 network organizations for preventing health and social risk factors in the Southern Border provinces at Narathiwat Airport.
•The 29 network organizations oppose the draft ThaiHealth Act proposed by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul because it replaces the direct 2% sin tax funding with a government budget allocation.
•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong warned that moving health funding back into the normal government budget system could open opportunities for corruption and lobbying.
•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong noted that over 90% of the public disagree with the draft law based on constitutional public hearing results.
•A representative from the Baan Thai Suk Youth Group stated that ThaiHealth funding has successfully helped children return to education and helped youth quit smoking.
•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong stated the draft law has not yet been placed on the official agenda.
•The Prachachat Party will prepare data for Mr. Kamolsak Leevama and other party MPs to debate the issue in the House of Representatives if the proposer does not withdraw the bill.

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Key Quotes

Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong

"Thailand has a high corruption problem. When health issues are pulled back into the normal budget system, it is seen as corruption, lobbying, and budget fighting."

ประเทศไทยมีปัญหาคอร์รัปชันสูง พอเรื่องสุขภาพถูกดึงกลับไปสู่ระบบงบประมาณปกติ มันก็ถูกมองไปเรื่องการคอร์รัปชัน การวิ่งเต้น และการแย่งชิงงบประมาณ

Representative of Baan Thai Suk Youth Group

"If the system changes and the ThaiHealth budget is lost, communities and small youth groups feel as if they are being cut off from opportunities to develop their own villages."

หากเปลี่ยนระบบจนงบประมาณ สสส. หลุดไป ชุมชนและกลุ่มเยาวชนเล็ก ๆ รู้สึกเหมือนกำลังถูกตัดโอกาสในการพัฒนาหมู่บ้านของตนเอง

Key Entities

Person

Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong(พ.ต.อ.ทวี สอดส่อง)

List MP, leader of the Prachachat Party, and advisor to the House Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

The proposer of the draft ThaiHealth Act along with his team.

Kamolsak Leevama(กมลศักดิ์ ลีวาเมาะ)

MP for Narathiwat District 5 from the Prachachat Party.

Kuheng Yaoahasun(กูเฮง ยาวอหะซัน)

Former Secretary to the Minister of Justice.

Organization

Prachachat Party(พรรคประชาชาติ)ℹ️

A political party led by Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong that opposes the draft ThaiHealth Act.

Thai Health Promotion Foundation(สำนักงานกองทุนสนับสนุนการสร้างเสริมสุขภาพ)

An organization (ThaiHealth) currently funded by a 2% tax on liquor and tobacco.

Baan Thai Suk Youth Group(กลุ่มเยาวชนบ้านไทยสุข)

A youth group in Lalo Sub-district, Rueso District, Narathiwat Province that receives support from ThaiHealth.

Narathiwat Provincial Children's Council(สภาเด็กจังหวัดนราธิวาส)

An organization that receives support from ThaiHealth for alcohol awareness campaigns.

House Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights(คณะกรรมาธิการการกฎหมาย การยุติธรรม และสิทธิมนุษยชน สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)

The parliamentary committee for which Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong serves as an advisor.

Law

ThaiHealth Act (No. ..) B.E. ...(พระราชบัญญัติกองทุนสนับสนุนการสร้างเสริมสุขภาพ (ฉบับที่ ..) พ.ศ. …)

A draft law proposed by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul to change the budget mechanism of ThaiHealth.

Place

Narathiwat Airport(ท่าอากาศยานนราธิวาส)ℹ️

The location where Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong received the open letter.