Nakhon Ratchasima: In a candid admission, a top Public Health Ministry official has shed light on the financial troubles plaguing state-owned hospitals across the nation, beseeching directors for urgent cooperation to resolve the dire situation. Dr. Opas Kankawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, revealed the financial plight during an annual academic conference on public health in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday. The heart of the issue, Dr. Opas explained, is an insufficient budget that’s straining around 1,000 hospitals under the ministry’s wing. He painted a stark picture: the budget shortfall directly impacts the funds available for medical staff, the accessibility to cutting-edge technology, and even the basic operational needs of these hospitals. “We’re responsible for more than a thousand hospitals,” Dr. Opas remarked. “Managing the costs is a Herculean task – from salaries and medicine to utilities like water and electricity, and various maintenance expenses. Monthly, we pour about 10 billion baht…
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Bhumjaithai, a pivotal player in the coalition, reaffirmed its endorsement of Pheu Thai’s ambitious plan to legalize casinos. Despite this support, however, concerns over potential monopolies hogging the lion’s share of the benefits were clearly voiced. Korrawee Prissananantakul, Bhumjaithai’s MP for Ang Thong, clearly asserted that while they never opposed the entertainment complex idea, the party is wary of seeing just one or two companies monopolize the gaming industry. During a joint House of Representatives and Senate meeting focused on the government’s casino proposal, Mr. Korrawee emphasized that ensuring fair income distribution is essential. He argued that situating such a complex in a small city might not allow for equitable financial benefits to spread widely. “More importantly,” he added, “the government must meticulously weigh the pros and cons of casino legalization before moving forward. The crucial question remains whether it’s fair for the Thai population if the government exchanges this…
The Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) has given the green light to a colossal budget totaling over 90.8 billion baht for the 2025 fiscal year, marking a significant investment in the city’s future. The lion’s share goes to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), with the Public Works Department reaping the most substantial portion. The decision came during a lively council meeting on Wednesday, which saw enthusiastic participation from BMC members and BMA executives, including the dynamic governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Their unanimous nod confirmed the extensive budget for the fiscal year 2025, kicking off on October 1. A staggering 90 billion baht has been earmarked for the BMA’s planned expenditure, with another 828.53 million baht set aside for the BMA’s commercial ventures. Interestingly, the BMC exercised prudence by pruning 5.57 billion baht from the city’s expenditure blueprint and trimming 25 million baht from the commercial plan. The Public Works Department experienced a…
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut is turning up the heat, urging the government to catapult the 2017 constitution rewrite to the top of the to-do list. With vigor, he took to the parliamentary floor on Thursday, waving a flag of urgency for this critical issue. Captured in a poignant photo by Chanat Katanyu, Natthaphong’s impassioned plea was clear: Let’s make this happen, now. On the opposition bench, there’s palpable frustration. The People’s Party is raising eyebrows at the government’s lukewarm approach, doubting if the promised constitutional overhauls will move beyond mere lip service. “The charter rewrite barely made a cameo in the government’s policy statement,” they pointed out with a mix of suspicion and exasperation. Natthaphong didn’t mince words. Spotlighting the absence of urgency in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s address, he challenged her to step away from the script. “I need to hear it from you, Prime Minister. Why is…
(Photo: Somchai Poomlard) Get ready to dive into the heart of sustainability at the grandiose Sustainability Expo 2024 (SX 2024), an event that’s already making waves as the largest of its kind in the ASEAN region. Mark your calendars for September 27th to October 6th and head over to the iconic Queen Sirikit National Convention Center—you won’t want to miss this. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Tongjai Thanachanan, the dynamic director of SX, unfolded the inspiring theme for this year’s revelry: “Sufficiency for Sustainability.” This marks the fifth consecutive year of the expo, each year building on its commitment to sustainability trends and innovations. This year’s theme takes its cue from a monumental speech delivered by His Majesty the King upon his coronation on May 4, 2019. This was more than a speech; it was a heartfelt commitment: “I shall continue, preserve, and build upon [the royal legacy], and…
Bali: Governments across the Asia-Pacific region are being called upon to prepare for their swiftly aging populations, projected to make up almost 20% of the region’s populace by 2050. Against the stunning backdrop of the Indonesian island of Bali, around 500 delegates from 38 countries have converged for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) on Population Ageing. The participants include a mix of experts, policymakers, UN members, representatives from international agencies, and civil society leaders from all corners of the Asia-Pacific region. This three-day gathering, which wraps up on Friday, carries the theme “Reframing Ageing”. It’s co-hosted by none other than the Ministry of National Development Planning of Indonesia, HelpAge International, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The primary aim? To compile a rich knowledge base on elderly care and create a network for disseminating best practices and expertise, crucial for developing robust elderly care systems across the Asia-Pacific.…
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, arrives at Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport, in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Aug 8. (Photo: Reuters) “Economics is a meaningless subject,” claimed Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, microfinance pioneer, and unconventional economist, in a revealing interview with Time magazine a few months ago. Little did he know that he would soon have a prime opportunity to put his words into action. Following the removal of Bangladesh’s authoritarian prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, earlier this month, Mr. Yunus was selected to lead the country’s caretaker government. Founded in 1971 after a brutal war of independence, Bangladesh seemed an unlikely candidate to be a beacon of development, given its ballooning population and acute susceptibility to natural disasters. Yet by the 1990s, it had made a credible claim to this title. While many developing countries were being stifled by the neoliberal Washington Consensus, figures like…
Mae Sai, Chiang Rai—In the throes of rising waters, police officers valiantly rescued a local resident from his submerged home on Thursday, as the relentless floods continued to devastate the region. The Royal Thai Police captured the heart-wrenching moment, painting a stark picture of the ongoing crisis. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, reacting swiftly to the unfolding catastrophe, convened an urgent meeting of cabinet ministers shortly after delivering the government’s policy statement in parliament. Her marching orders were clear: expedite relief measures for those tormented by the floods, with a laser focus on the Northern provinces, especially Chiang Rai. During the emergency session, Ms. Paetongtarn instructed the Interior Ministry, the Defence Ministry, and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to spearhead the evacuation of both people and livestock. Furthermore, the Interior and Defence Ministries were tasked, alongside the Public Health Ministry, with providing care at evacuation centers, ensuring medical supplies were available…
Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, with a charismatic wai and a gentle smile, acknowledged the cheers of his supporters after securing his position as the leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) during their general assembly on September 6th. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) Yet storm clouds are gathering on the horizon for the 79-year-old leader. A former Pheu Thai Party spokesman, Prompong Nopparit, has ignited a controversy that threatens to rock PPRP to its core. Prompong has formally sought an investigation into Gen Prawit’s conduct, spurred by a set of leaked audio recordings that were aired during the Inside Thailand TV show on MCOT. The controversy hinges on four audio clips that Prompong alleges feature none other than Gen Prawit himself. In his dramatic appeal to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), he urged them to scrutinize the tapes for any signs of unethical behavior, warning that such acts could warrant a lifetime ban…
On October 25, 2019, members of the Muslim Students Federation converged on a skywalk in the bustling Pathumwan district of Bangkok. This gathering solemnly marked the 15th anniversary of the Tak Bai massacre, a dark stain on Thailand’s history. The tragedy unfolded in 2004, leaving a trail of sorrow and unresolved justice, and the shadow of this event continues to loom large today. Fast forward to the present, and the Narathiwat Criminal Court is ramping up efforts to bring closure to the wounds of Tak Bai. Arrest warrants have been issued for six defendants who failed to appear for questioning on a recent Thursday. They were part of a group of seven individuals slated to stand before the court for witness questioning and evidence examination, but inexplicably, none of them showed up. Adding to the complexity of the case, a summons has been issued for the seventh defendant, former Army…