Health Network Opposes Earmarked Tax Repeal for Four Funds
The Thai Health Promotion Network has formally opposed legislative amendments that would abolish earmarked taxes on alcohol and tobacco funding four health and social funds. The network argues the move would dismantle a "polluter pays" system benefiting public health, benefit tobacco and alcohol industries by an estimated 14 billion baht annually, and contradicts existing fiscal law and WHO recommendations.
The Thai Health Promotion Network submitted a letter to House Speaker Sopon Sarum via Pol. Lt. Gen. Wichai Sangprapai, advisor to the Speaker, presenting opposition data against amendments to four royal decree drafts: the Health Promotion Fund Act, the Public Broadcasting Service Act, the Elderly Act, and the Sports Authority Act. The key proposal is to eliminate the earmarked budget system that allocates excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco for specific purposes, citing fiscal discipline. Thanakorn Komkris, network coordinator, said the Bhumjaithai Party proposed these amendments claiming government policy, but the network disagrees. The move would destroy the public's direct budget system. Even WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sent an open letter to Anutin urging reconsideration. Many legal, economic, and social experts oppose this because the surcharge tax follows the "polluter pays" principle to address health and social problems. The legislators cite government policy from April 2026 but lack impact studies, contradicting the 2018 State Fiscal Discipline Act Article 82 which protects pre-2018 fund laws. Reports show the tobacco industry plans to dismantle earmarked tax systems globally using misinformation, benefiting businesses by an estimated 14 billion baht per year.
