POST REPORTERS
The Public Health Ministry will draft strict guidelines for the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to follow after a committee of state auditors found the agency allegedly squandered more than half of its budget this year funding political projects.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said yesterday the ministry would set up a committee to draft standards for the foundation, based on the 2001 Thai Health Promotion Foundation Act, after the audit raised concerns.
The state auditors' investigation found more than half of the funding set aside for non-profit organisations actually went to political projects on political reform, ideal election methods and a survey on the Thai political landscape, said a public health source.
The auditors have notified Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and all agencies concerned about the findings.
Dr Piyasakol said he has appointed Seri Tuchinda, his adviser, to head the committee.
The committee includes lawyers and representatives from the Budget Bureau, the Prime Minister's Office and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, said Dr Piyasakol.
The minister stressed the committee would not investigate Thai Health, because that was the duty of the the state budget auditors and the Office of the AuditorGeneral (OAG).
"What we are doing is drafting new protocol for Thai Health to follow, based on the principles of the act," he said.
When asked if Thai Health had broken any laws, Dr Piyasakol said he didn't know.
"We will not attempt to interfere or control Thai Health, as feared by several sides, because Thai Health is an independent organisation established under its own specific law," he said.
Thai Health's chief executive officer, Krissada Raungarreerat, said he welcomed the decision to set up the committee and was ready for whatever followed.
A copy of the state auditors' findings was earlier sent to staff members and leaked on social media.
It sparked rumours Dr Krissada would be suspended pending a probe, a decision that Dr Piyasakol says is up to the state budget auditors.
Meanwhile, Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas said the OAG normally audits Thai Health's budget spending annually and earlier had found nothing unusual.
When asked if Thai Health will switch to private auditors, as it has requested, Mr Pisit said the OAG is duty-bound to continue auditing the foundation.