Back to work, PM tells execs

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday ordered the remaining board members of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) to resume work on Monday.

The premier announced his intention yesterday amid growing dissatisfaction with the government’s move to suspend seven board members and freeze ThaiHealth’s budget of about 1.64 billion baht while it is investigating their alleged conflicts of interest and an accusation that the foundation misspent the money.

Gen Prayut did not say how he will approach the budget issue but said he is mainly concerned over a lack of quorum in board meetings, which can hinder the foundation’s work on health-related projects.

Currently there are only two independent experts and 11 government officials from various ministries on the board.

“I have to apologise to all senior experts and doctors” working with ThaiHealth, he said. “I don’t want to destroy you. I only hope to restore trust in you.”

The prime minister was referring to seven board members who were suspended following his order made under Section 44 of the interim charter.

The suspension was based on a finding that these executives were involved with organisations receiving funds from ThaiHealth, though one of them, Yongyud Wongpiromsarn, said they already resigned from those agencies.