THAIHEALTH
Portion of funds cut over 'irregularities'
ANAPAT DEECHUAY
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday ordered the suspension of some of the budget spent by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), citing fiscal irregularities and misuse of funds.

General Chatudom Titthasiri, chairman of the Monitoring and Auditing Committee on Fiscal Expenditures, who had been assigned by the PM to investigate ThaiHealth's spending, said he had sent the prime minister the results of the probe, which found some irregularities.

He found that some payments were made to individual people, groups or organisations that did not match the intended purpose. The investigation was launched following reports that ThaiHealth spent its budget to support activities not related to its purpose.

According to the law, ThaiHealth's expenditure of its budget allocated from the so-called "sin tax" is supposed to be used to promote and encourage health promotion in the population of all ages in accordance with the national health policy. Some of it should also be used to support campaigns to reduce the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other deteriorating substances.

ThaiHealth was established in 2001 as a health promotion funding mechanism that draws upon a 2 per cent surcharge levied on alcohol and tobacco excise tax, which amounts to around Bt2 billion a year.

"But some activities [funded by ThaiHealth] did not directly promote people's health," Chatudom said.

The Auditor General Office also found irregularities in the budget spending that was deemed careless, he said.

Chatudom said the Public Health Ministry had set up a committee to look into ThaiHealth's expenditures in order to ensure the budget is used for its intended purpose.

The PM also ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate the misuse of the budget approval.

"The prime minister put a stop only to some of the budget that was not used for its intended purpose. The rest of the foundation can continue [to spend]," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Portion-of-funds-cut-over-irregularities-30270676.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-12

Why is possible misuse of a government budget in the news?

The day this doesn't happen, now that will be news.

Some unhealthy goings-on in ThaiHealth? This is sickening!

Let's hope those responsible get their medicine.

If MACFE look elsewhere, they may realise they have an epidemic.

Can't stop stealing can they ,but when they always get away with it what do you expect

I think I have an idea which spending might have been found to be ... what's the word? ... "irregular".

There are environmental groups which oppose projects that clearly put the health of local people at risk. ThaiHealth funds are used by these activists. While that itself is something that this military junta doesn't "like", there is more...

Can you guess which might be one of the groups active in this form of environmental activism for quite some time?

Dao Din.

No investigation or jail sentences for those folks who received the funds?

Might as well shut down the government. Misuse of government funds is an epidemic in Thailand.

Government departments misusing government funds????

How dare they [let someone find out!].

Might as well shut down the government. Misuse of government funds is an epidemic in Thailand.

Always attack selective misuses. Pick your enemy not your friend.

Got to love the euphemisms, ' fiscal irregularities and misuse of funds '.

Does that translate to ' somebody stole the money ' ?

Maybe the government should also investigate unelected, self-appointed officials using taxpayer dollars without taxpayer approval. Especially when funds do not match the intended purpose of a sovereign people..

No investigation or jail sentences for those folks who received the funds?

Firstly, how about investigation and jail for those corrupt government officials who distributed the funds in the first instance? Then reclaim the funds from those who were not legally entitled to receive them? A tough ask that one, unfortunately.