Anti-Corruption Watchdog Questions High-Cost Gym Equipment at Saraburi Centers
The National Anti-Corruption Commission inspected elderly health centers in Saraburi costing over 460 million baht, questioning whether the expensive gym equipment and high maintenance costs justify the spending across 15 provincial facilit
On August 13, Kiartsak Puttapant, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, led media to inspect health promotion centers for elderly residents in Saeng Phan Subdistrict, Wang Muang District, and Muak Lek Subdistrict, Muak Lek District, Saraburi Province. The inspection aimed to monitor high-value project spending and educate officials on proper budget use. Staff reported an average of 40–50 daily users, mostly retired civil servants. Both facilities feature indoor gyms equipped with air conditioning and expensive exercise machines procured by Saraburi Provincial Administration. The project includes 15 such centers across Saraburi built over three fiscal years at a combined cost exceeding 460 million baht: 3 centers in 2563 (91.28 million baht), 9 in 2564 (269.4 million baht), and 3 in 2568 (99.99 million baht). Sports equipment totals 30 items, including seven treadmills—three with reinforced belts and four standard models—each priced at 880,000 baht. Kiartsak expressed satisfaction with equipment quality but voiced concern about maintenance costs and electricity expenses for local government budgets post-handover. The Muak Lek center alone has 104 exercise machines. Paramada Denwong, Deputy Head of Muak Lek Municipality, confirmed that maintenance budgets have been prepared, with requests to the Provincial Administration for equipment replacement if needs exceed capacity.
