Bangkok: The Budget Committee is actively investigating the Ministry of Public Health's event budget following a series of complaints regarding the expenditure by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) on event organizers across the nation.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, who chairs the Committee on Studying Budget Preparation and Monitoring, received a formal request for an investigation from Dr. Suphat Hasuwanakit. Dr. Hasuwanakit, an advisor to the Chair of the Committee on Political Development, Mass Media, and Public Participation, submitted a letter urging scrutiny into how both budgetary and off-budget funds are utilized by the Ministry of Public Health, particularly by the NHSO. The NHSO's hiring of numerous event organizers nationwide has raised concerns about the potential inefficiency in the use of these funds, prompting the need for an investigation to ensure their transparent and effective use for public health benefits.
Ms. Srinok emphasized that while organizing public-benefiting activities or events is not inherently problematic, the Ministry must transparently and accountably detail the budget allocations for such events or provincial fund distributions. She assured that the committee would consider potential solutions and continue to monitor the situation to uphold transparency and efficiency in budget management.