The National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) panel scrutinising state budget spending says it will monitor the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to ensure its funds are being spent on their intended purpose.
Gen Chatudom Tittasiri, chairman of the coup-appointed committee, said the Public Health Ministry is drafting guidelines for ThaiHealth to follow. His committee will oversee their enforcement. He said it is important to put in place the spending guidelines to ensure ThaiHealth, which is funded by earmarked taxes, not the normal budget system, is accountable and transparent.
The move comes after the NCPO's audit committee found ThaiHealth's budget this year was not spent in the manner intended. There are reports more than half the funding set aside for the non-profit organisation actually went to projects on political reform, election methods and a survey of the Thai political landscape.
Gen Chatudom said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Justice Ministry to investigate authorisation of the spending.
He said the prime minister also suspended the spending of funds not in line with the agency's principles. Following the committee's findings, Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn appointed his adviser Seri Tuchind to head the committee drafting the spending guidelines.