Health Ministry Reassures Village Health Volunteers of Continued Support
The Ministry of Public Health assured village health volunteers that their allowance payments will remain under central ministry control despite transfers of some health duties to local governments, with no changes to payment procedures or
The Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) under the Ministry of Public Health has clarified that allowance payments to village health volunteers (AESM) will remain under the ministry's oversight even as health duties are transferred to local government organizations, with no impact on volunteer operations. The issue arose after a subcommittee proposed that local hospitals receiving transferred authority should certify volunteer work for payment processing instead of district health offices, potentially confusing some volunteers about payment procedures.
Dr. Phuwadet Surakote, director of the DHSS, explained that volunteer allowances are managed according to a March 23, 2021 cabinet resolution placing the budget with the Ministry of Public Health, with the DHSS responsible for budget proposal and management. The certification process is divided into two clear stages: volunteers continue their fieldwork with primary care staff, while work verification flows from village volunteer coordinators through subdistrict coordinators, district health offices, and provincial health offices to the DHSS for final approval.
The DHSS affirmed that even as some primary care units transfer to local administrative organizations, volunteers can seamlessly coordinate with all health service providers across different jurisdictions in keeping with the volunteer spirit. Officials urged all parties to uphold the volunteer ethos and maintain unity in implementing public health policy to preserve volunteer morale and performance nationwide.
