PM Prayut says free public services will not be terminated as rumored

[webfact]

PM says free public services will not be terminated as rumored



BANGKOK, 29 December 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied rumors that his government will terminate free public services.

Gen Prayut has asked the general public to dismiss these rumors, which claim that the free bus and train services, as well as free education and healthcare will be terminated. General Prayut has indicated that the government has enough revenue from four million taxpayers to keep these services active.

Thailand has a population of around 70 million people. A total of 10 million citizens are in the tax system, with four million paying taxes monthly and the remaining six million entitled to tax reductions. State revenue is also being generated through public servants’ income tax and value-added tax.

Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayatorn has insisted that the public health insurance system will continue, as it is deemed beneficial to the Thai people. He added that healthcare officials will meet with a committee on human resources to discuss how to make the system more sustainable.


-- NNT 2015-12-29

[JOC]

No doubt an evil rumour started by Thaksin from his new base in Myanmar...................................

[up-country_sinclair]

The real take away from this news story should be that there are only 4 million taxpayers in a country of 70 million people.

[55Jay]

Continue the burdensome policies of past administrations.

Yingluck's gang was working on a bunch of infrastructure projects, specifically water resources management. They all got squashed but thought I heard PM mention something about them about a year ago. Now would be a great time instead of waiting until it rains again.

[nong38]

The real take away from this news story should be that there are only 4 million taxpayers in a country of 70 million people.

You are spot here. If you dont fill in tax return you dont pay tax, even a Thai can work that out. All Government employees should be filling in a tax return, so should all people who work for registered companies. The market sellers and street vendors well they dont do they, they have a job to make a living but someone from the Revenue Department should be on this case.

The main free public service is the UC health care scheme which is struggling for cash as more and more people especially older people attend the hospitals. You only have to go at 0600 and see how many people are registering, not sure they all need to be there I think a lot treat it as day out but its free so they go.

I am sure all of us "guests" would not mind making a contribution to the scheme for the "Gold Card" for us to use if required because as we get older the insurance companies tell us we no longer a soft touch and FO. That might eleviate the situation a little whilst they sort out the revenue problem, perhaps they should look at the Greek model, or maybe not!

[CantSpell]

The real take away from this news story should be that there are only 4 million taxpayers in a country of 70 million people.

The market sellers and street vendors well they dont do they, they have a job to make a living but someone from the Revenue Department should be on this case.

They don't pay taxes but might make more than the 9000 THB paid to the average worker...

Or they would be working..

Same as the Tuk Tuk and other self employed... And all of them benefit from the 30 THB healthcare...

Now the second group that should also be interesting to check are the very rich: pretty sure they are not properly included in the 4 millions

[webfact]

PM assures he won’t scrap Gold Card scheme, but will make it better



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed that he would not scrap the 30-baht health scheme but would make it better.

His affirmation came after protest was looming over rumour that the government would scrap the scheme, also known as the “Gold Card” programme.

During his Monday’s inspection trip to a village in Surat Thani’s Ban Na Derm district, Gen Prayut said he had no intention to scrap the gold card public welfare programmes although it suffered chronic loss that resulted in huge budget deficits.

He told the people not to be misled by such rumour.

Instead he intended to improve the programme or make it better serve the people.

He said the country suffered annual budget deficit because of higher expenses than incomes.

However he assured that it was the government responsibility to resolve it.

So, he said, public welfare programmes such as free rides for public transport, free education, and free healthcare schemes would not be scrapped.

Instead he said his government would be looking into ways to find more funds and to improve the gold card scheme, he said.

He asked the people to give up their planned protest against the government’s effort to improve the scheme.

He said the government is compiling data base of non taxpayers and issue ID cards for them.

He said ID cards for non taxpayers was not to disgrace them but instead will be used as database to launch a welfare state.

Meanwhile Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said the existing gold card scheme is good and the ministry is making it better so the people will get better healthcare services.

He said there was attempt to exploit the improvement of the scheme for political interest.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-assures-he-wont-scrap-gold-card-scheme-but-will-make-it-better


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-29

[55Jay]

Free healthcare isn't free. Obviously.

[Snackbar]

1 in ten workers pay tax. There's the root of the problem. Unbelievable.

70% are working age. 40m

4m tax payers.

Someone with an education might shake things up a bit. Where does the money come from to buy new condos, cars and iphones?

What a **** up.

[FangFerang]

I don't like the fact that the junta came in under artificial circumstances, but JEEZUS, give it a rest. Now social media is declaring that everything that helps poor people in Thailand is being terminated.

I really don't believe that.

[Eric Loh]

Is he against or for populist policies? Strange dude speaks fork tongue.

[55Jay]

I don't like the fact that the junta came in under artificial circumstances, but JEEZUS, give it a rest. Now social media is declaring that everything that helps poor people in Thailand is being terminated.

I really don't believe that.

I recall a recent event where the junta has publicly denied they are doing something, then a few days later, come out and say they are, whether anyone likes it or not. That could be adding to their lack of credibility, which is tenuous to begin with based on those artificial circumstances you mentioned.

[amdy2206]

I really can't believe that only 4 million people pay tax. That is only about 6% of the population!!! How long till the country finally wakes up to the fact that most people don't care about the country and only care about themselves. Any NORMAL country will have 60/70/80 % paying taxes. Is this Thainess keeping everything for yourself?

[amdy2206]

It's also high time that free rail journeys were stopped. The trains make massive losses and the service and conditions are appaling. For someone to pay 10B for a trip is very little but to make it free is ridiculous. I used to trsvel from Ayutthaya to Bangkok for 24B but would have been more than willing to pay 100. They at least need to cover costs.

[MaeJoMTB]

The real take away from this news story should be that there are only 4 million taxpayers in a country of 70 million people.

And they're all government employees!

[elgordo38]

I don't like the fact that the junta came in under artificial circumstances, but JEEZUS, give it a rest. Now social media is declaring that everything that helps poor people in Thailand is being terminated.

I really don't believe that.

If you don't believe that get a copy or try online of a well known English newspaper out of Bangkok dated Thursday December 24th and read the comments by the PM on the right hand side at the top of the front page. A PM for all the people? right?