Former deputy manager of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) Supreeda Adulyanon was appointed its new manager on Friday at an executive meeting.
People from organisations funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) stage a protest to highlight how the organisations are suffering as a result of the foundation’s budget freeze. The group handed a petition to ThaiHealth board chairman Narong Pipatanasai at the foundation’s office on Friday. (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)
However, no solution was reached on the frozen budget and retrospective tax collection issues.
Mr Supreeda, who has been acting manager since Krissada Ruang-areerat resigned from his post in mid-October last year, was appointed by a selection committee at the first meeting after the suspension of seven board members.
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Narong Pipatanasai, the meeting agreed to find replacements for the seven ousted board members.
Another committee will be set up to seek replacements.
The committee members have to include representatives from civic groups, ThaiHealth officials, experts and state officers, according to the ThaiHealth law.
The selection process lasts 30 days with the possibility of a one-month extension.
Chamnan Pichetthapan was appointed earlier this week as deputy chairman. It is uncertain whether he will remain in his position.
Adm Narong said ThaiHealth will seek clarification from the Council of State if the suspended seven are eligible to reapply.
The seven were suspended under Section 44 of the interim charter.
The order, which accused them of having conflicts of interest in managing ThaiHealth funds, has yet to be revoked.
The seven have insisted they managed the funds with transparency. Most of them left their positions as ThaiHealth grantees before holding executive positions with ThaiHealth.
Adm Narong said the meeting agreed to consult with the Monitoring and Auditing Committee on Fiscal Expenditure (MACFE) to find a way to unfreeze the ThaiHealth budget for projects with grants of over 5 million baht. However, ThaiHealth "must fix its regulations while narrowing its wide definition of well-being".
“Unlocking the ThaiHealth budget depends on its performance too. Fixing its regulations is one of the factors,” he said. “It can be said that ThaiHealth is being watched by society. So, some of its work must be adjusted.”
The meeting did not reach a conclusion on the tax issue, where ThaiHealth grantees are being accused of not paying income tax, Adm Narong added.
MACFE interpreted the entire grant amount as “production of goods to order”, meaning grantees must pay income tax based on this amount.