THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

The Ministry of Public Health has pledged a thorough review of its 200 partner clinics under the universal healthcare coverage plan, widely known as the 30-baht scheme, amidst a wave of patient complaints. Vice Minister Thanakit Jitareerat announced that the ministry is acutely aware of the situation and that the Department of Health Service Support (DOHSS) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) will collaborate on this critical investigation. Officials from both agencies will diligently assess whether these clinics have adhered to the ministry’s rigorous regulations. “Our inspection of over 200 clinics in the capital kicks off next week. Our legal team will scrutinize if any of these clinics have violated the established rules. If they can’t comply with our standards, they should terminate their partnership agreements,” Mr. Thanakit asserted confidently. Mr. Thanakit estimated that roughly 10 out of the 200 clinics might be under scrutiny for issues. The bulk…

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry has formed an exciting alliance with the Public Health Ministry to roll out a revolutionary digital one-stop-service platform designed specifically for applications related to disabled person ID cards and disability grants. The platform debuted with great fanfare at an elaborate ceremony held yesterday at the Centara Life Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre, located on Chaeng Watthana Road in Lak Si district. At the event, Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa expounded on the government’s commitment to enhancing the lives of disabled citizens. He provided a comprehensive overview of the new one-stop service platform, which promises to simplify procedures and lower costs for those who need it most. Minister Varawut emphasized that this groundbreaking platform is a crucial component of an overarching project designed to offer more accessible welfare services for the disabled community. The online initiative is structured into two…

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has called upon all governmental agencies to collaborate in a unified effort to stave off potential floods during this year’s rainy season. This directive might even elevate flood mitigation to the level of a national agenda item. The announcement came in the wake of a high-profile meeting that gathered key figures like Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow, Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) secretary-general Surasee Kittimonthon, and Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt. These stakeholders convened to discuss strategies and preparations ahead of what promises to be the most intense phase of the rainy season. Prime Minister Srettha was brought up to speed with the current rainfall and flood scenarios across the nation. He learned about ongoing measures to mitigate natural disasters and the game plans poised…

An election official gingerly showcased a ballot paper at one of the Senate election stations. The venue? The swanky Centara Life Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre, which buzzed with eager participants on June 16. Winners from this provincial election would find themselves on a thrilling journey to the national voting round on June 26. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) Now, brace yourself: The grueling dance of wooing or even exchanging votes in the Senate election no longer stands in violation of the Election Commission’s (EC) regulations. This revelation came from no other than the EC secretary-general, Sawang Boonmee, on a rather sunny Thursday. For those wondering whether encouraging votes for oneself or promising a cheeky vote exchange was still a Senate faux pas—it isn’t anymore. Here’s the scoop: A petition had once cast its shadow on the EC’s stern restrictions that initially crimped candidates’ election campaigns. However, on May 24, the…

Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmawatcharatheeracharn, rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, made a mark in history on a serene Wednesday in Bhutan. With a graceful presentation of an honorary doctorate in Buddhism to His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the ceremony was nothing short of magnificent. A snapshot of this significant event, captured and shared on His Majesty’s Facebook, spread elation across the globe. The ceremonial extravaganza didn’t stop there. A total of seven eminent Thai universities converged at the grandiose Dungkar Dzong Royal Palace, nestled in the picturesque town of Paro, west of Bhutan’s capital. Their purpose? To bestow honorary doctorate degrees upon His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, thereby cementing inter-national ties and celebrating academic excellence. The ceremonious parade of honorary degrees encompassed a wide range of diverse fields, underlining the King’s multifaceted interests and contributions: Thammasat University graced His Majesty with an honorary doctorate in the field of…

The political landscape is filled with turmoil, but amidst the chaos, an impassioned plea for unity emerges. Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, the charismatic secretary-general of the Progressive Movement (PM), has spotlighted the necessity for camaraderie between Thailand’s two political titans: the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP). On a striking Thursday, Piyabutr took to his Facebook account, urging these major parties to abandon their trivial squabbles and unite against what he called ‘unjust dissolution laws’ perpetuated by the ‘old guards’. Laws that could, at any moment, turn the political tides against any party. This compelling call to action comes hot on the heels of a fervent parliamentary debate. MFP’s leader, the unyielding Chaithawat Tulathon, and Pheu Thai’s vociferous spokesman, Danuporn Punakanta, were locked in a fiery exchange over the national budget plan. It was a showdown as gripping as any championship bout. Mr. Chaithawat lambasted the government…

Wissanu Krea-ngam, an adviser to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, recently arrived at Government House to present the findings of a high-profile probe into the rift between Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol and Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) In a dramatic turn of events, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as the national police chief following the completion of a thorough investigation into an internal feud that has captivated the nation, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, legal adviser to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Mr. Wissanu spilled the beans on Thursday, revealing the investigation results orchestrated by a committee led by Chatchai Promlert to untangle the web of discord between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn. The saga, stretching over four months, uncovered a tangled mess of conflicts and disarray within the Royal Thai Police at multiple levels. However, it remained a mystery whether these issues stemmed…

Thaniya Chaodonka’s tears streamed down her face as she clutched a framed photo of her beloved four-year-old daughter, who tragically passed away at a hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima this past January. Struggling for answers, her family filed a formal complaint with the Ministry of Public Health on Thursday, pleading for a thorough investigation into the medical treatment that preceded their devastating loss. (Photo: Sagee Wongchaisuwan) The family of the young girl, heartbroken and desperate for understanding, has urged the Ministry to determine whether a misdiagnosis or medical errors were responsible for her untimely death. A foundation that played a pivotal role in bringing the tragedy to light has raised the alarm, suggesting that as many as ten deaths could be linked to human error or faulty diagnoses at Phra Thongkham Hospital. In the company of representatives from the Pen Nueng Foundation, Thaniya met with Thanakit Jitareerat, a vice-minister, to recount…

Conscripts proudly display their ATM cards and cash withdrawal slips as the army promotes its activities. However, some newly recruited soldiers might be unaware that they have a host of expenses to pay—from uniforms to a less glamorous septic tank pumping fee. (Photo: Wassana Nanuam) (Photo: Wassana Nanuam) The Ministry of Defence has recently rolled out a comprehensive set of criteria to delineate which expenses can be deducted from conscripts’ salaries, ensuring that military recruits have a decent amount of money to enjoy. This move follows a social media uproar over claims of dubious deductions from conscripts’ salaries for utilities and miscellaneous items, including WiFi charges and a 500-baht septic tank pumping fee. One soldier highlighted the plight, presenting a slip showing that these deductions gobbled up 60% of his monthly salary. The outcry was significant enough that Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang ordered a thorough investigation. Under the new guidelines,…

Paramee Waichongcharoen, a dedicated list-MP from the Move Forward Party (MFP), has been tirelessly advocating for the urgent need for increased educational funding. With determination in her voice, she brought this critical issue to light during the recent debate on the 2025 fiscal budget bill in the House of Representatives. According to a freshly published report by the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), a staggering 1.02 million children have either dropped out of school or chosen not to pursue further education due to crippling poverty. Paramee highlights an alarming trend: another 3 million students from impoverished backgrounds are teetering on the brink of leaving the education system. Shockingly, only about 2 million of them have managed to secure state funds meant to support their schooling. The remainder are perilously close to saying goodbye to their educational dreams. Paramee, who once shaped minds as a teacher before stepping into the political arena,…