Tawee Receives Letter Opposing Thai Health Promotion Foundation Act

Matichon•Politics•5d ago

Reader Briefing

Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong received an open letter from 29 organizations in the southern border provinces opposing a draft amendment to the Thai Health Promotion Foundation Act.

•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong received the letter on October 16 at Narathiwat Airport.
•The draft law proposed by Anutin Charnvirakul aims to change the funding mechanism from a 2% 'sin tax' to the annual government budget system.
•Opponents claim the change could lead to corruption and affect the continuity of community health budgets.
•Prachachat Party prepares to debate the draft in the House of Representatives if it is not withdrawn.

Overview

•On October 16, Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Mr. Kamolsak Leewama, and Mr. Kuheng Yawohasan met representatives at Narathiwat Airport to receive an open letter.
•29 organizations from the southern border provinces submitted a letter requesting the government to review and withdraw the draft Thai Health Promotion Foundation Act.
•The proposed draft by Anutin Charnvirakul would cancel the 2% funding from liquor and tobacco taxes and switch to an annual expenditure budget system.
•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong warned that moving health funding to the normal budget system could open opportunities for corruption and budget competition.
•Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong stated that based on preliminary information, over 90% of people who participated in public hearings disagree with the draft.
•A youth representative from Ban Thai Suk noted that the Thai Health Promotion Foundation has previously funded activities that brought children back to school and helped youths quit smoking.
•The draft law has not yet been included in the official agenda.
•Prachachat Party intends to provide data to Mr. Kamolsak Leewama and other party MPs to debate the pros and cons of the draft in the House of Representatives.

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Key Quotes

Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong

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

ประเทศไทยมีปัญหาคอร์รัปชันสูง พอเรื่องสุขภาพถูกดึงกลับไปสู่ระบบงบประมาณปกติ มันก็ถูกมองไปเรื่องการคอร์รัปชัน การวิ่งเต้น และการแย่งชิงงบประมาณ

Youth representative from Ban Thai Suk

"If the system changes and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation budget is lost, communities and small youth groups feel as if they are being denied opportunities to develop their village."

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.

Mr. Kamolsak Leewama(นายกมลศักดิ์ ลีวาเมาะ)

MP for Narathiwat Constituency 5 from the Prachachat Party.

Mr. Kuheng Yawohasan(นายกูเฮง ยาวอหะซัน)

Former Secretary to the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul(นายอนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)

The person who proposed the draft amendment to the Thai Health Promotion Foundation Act.

Organization

Prachachat Party(พรรคประชาชาติ)ℹ️

A political party led by Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong that intends to debate the draft law in parliament.

Thai Health Promotion Foundation(สำนักงานกองทุนสนับสนุนการสร้างเสริมสุขภาพ)

An organization that currently receives 2% of liquor and tobacco taxes to fund health promotion and risk prevention.

Health and Social Risk Prevention Network(ภาคีเครือข่ายป้องกันปัจจัยเสี่ยงทางสุขภาพและสังคม)

A network of 29 organizations in the southern border provinces opposing the draft law.

Ban Thai Suk Youth Group(กลุ่มเยาวชนบ้านไทยสุข)

A youth group in La-lo Subdistrict, Rueso District, Narathiwat that works with La-lo Health Promoting Hospital.

Narathiwat Provincial Children's Council(สภาเด็กจังหวัดนราธิวาส)

An organization that uses Thai Health Promotion Foundation support for alcohol awareness campaigns.

House of Representatives(สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)ℹ️

The legislative body where the draft law will be considered and debated.

Place

Narathiwat Airport(ท่าอากาศยานนราธิวาส)ℹ️

The location where Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong received the open letter on October 16.

Law

Draft Thai Health Promotion Foundation Act(ร่างพระราชบัญญัติกองทุนสนับสนุนการสร้างเสริมสุขภาพ (ฉบับที่ ..) พ.ศ. ...)

A proposed law seeking to change the funding mechanism of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to the annual budget system.