The Interior Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with 17 other government agencies to link their systems so that Thais will only have to use their identification cards to obtain public services.
The agencies are the ministries of Digital Economy and Society and Public Health; the departments of Employment, Provincial Administration, Fisheries, Livestock Development and Agricultural Extension, the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Office of the Public Sector Department Commission, Royal Thai Police, Electronic Transactions Development Agency (Public Organisation), Electronic Government Agency (Public Organisation), Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Provincial Electricity Authority, TOT Plc and Thailand Post.
Permanent interior secretary Krissada Boonrat said the move would result in greater efficiency and reduced costs for people seeking services.
The government planned to expand the service through a one-stop online channel in the future.
Services would be divided into three groups:
The first, a services link with the Department of Provincial Administration such as for job applications, student enrolment and farmers’ data.
Another would serve the use of the smart identification card, such reporting a missing document.
The third group would be applications for use of utility services such the water, electricity and telephones.
He did not say when it would be implemented. Many government services currently require additional documentation such as house registration.