Cross-Party MPs Defend ThaiHealth Funding at Parliament
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation presented its annual report to parliament, highlighting successes in youth e-cigarette control, alcohol reduction, diabetes care innovation, and fewer road fatalities. MPs from both government and opposition parties praised the agency and united in opposing legislative changes that would alter its sin-tax funding mechanism, arguing the current model is internationally recognized and effective.
On November 12, 2026, at the House of Representatives, ThaiHealth manager Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon presented the foundation's 2024-2025 annual report during the 24th session of the current parliament. The report detailed 23 flagship achievements spanning health risk reduction, creation of health-promoting environments, and reduction of health disparities. Concrete results included an e-cigarette surveillance network of youth communicators covering over 1,600 educational institutions, the "Liver Break, Life Extends" pilot in 80 health-promoting hospitals across 12 health zones, and a diabetes care innovation "Diabetes Can Be Cured" in prototype areas where 52% of patients stopped medication and 47% reduced dosages. Road deaths and injuries fell by 628 cases compared to 2024, while an alcohol-free Songkran festival cut assault cases from 8,575 in 2023 to 6,100 in 2025, a 28.9% drop.
MPs from both government and opposition benches then debated and offered recommendations. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva praised ThaiHealth as the primary citizen-driven health promotion body, noting its sustainable funding from sin taxes is internationally recognized and effective. He argued fiscal discipline and transparency claims are insufficient grounds to alter the revenue system or fold the budget into the regular system, as that wouldn't guarantee better oversight. Instead, ThaiHealth should strengthen audits, ensure fund distribution reaches target groups, set clear targets, and accelerate action on alcohol, tobacco, and e-cigarettes threatening youth.
Bhumjaithai Party MP Alongkot Maneekat from Nakhon Phanom commended ThaiHealth's youth work in his province, including the Active Play program in 13 schools since 2024 and the B-Star Afterschool Program creating four model schools with teacher training continuing through 2027. He urged four improvements: channel budgets directly to primary care units, schools, and communities; adjust indicators to reflect behavioral and health outcome changes; integrate work with the National Health Security Office, Ministry of Public Health, and local administrations to reduce duplication; and clarify funding mechanisms while welcoming feedback.
