State must give up unnecessary powers
THAIS WILL enjoy better quality public services if the state enhances its regulatory role and relinquishes other powers, according to the Thailand Development Research Institute.
Overseas lessons were shared by TDRI researchers and outside experts at the TDRI’s annual academic conference on Tuesday, along with complaints about poor quality of public services in Thailand – ranging from education to public health – as the state plays conflicting roles.
The quality of telecom services improves as the state ceases its role as a service provider and acts as the policymaker and regulator. This also applies to the energy sector.
However, the state still sets policies and regulates and provides educational and public health services.
The Public Health Ministry owns hospitals nationwide. Rather than focusing on service improvement of hospitals and neutralising variations in services to the members of three public health schemes, it has been too busy with helping its hospitals cope with financial challenges.
“It is a worrying sign that in the past 10 years, state expenses expanded exponentially while economic growth could not catch up.
“But against higher expenses, the outcome deteriorated,” said Banyong Pongpanich, chief executive officer of Kiatnakin Bank.
“Lesser the power, lesser is corruption,” he said.
This would also lead to higher efficiency in the public sector.
Banyong and TDRI research director Deunden Nikomborirak highlighted the need for the state to move away from acting as a service provider.
In the public health sector, the current system led to zero competition among state-owned units, as none is accountable for poor service.
Health accreditation (HA) has been promoted in Thailand, but it does not guarantee that the accredited hospitals would win bigger financial support.
In France, all hospitals must strive for accreditation, while accredited hospitals in Australia are entitled to a 10-per-cent extra budget.
Greater participation by local administrative bodies and the private sector in public services should be promoted, she said.
In Germany, 50 per cent of hospitals are operated by local administrations. In Japan, 72 per cent are operated by non-profit organisations. In the United Kingdom, 96 per cent are operated by government units, which are not the health ministry.
The focus should also be on narrowing the service gaps in the three state health insurance schemes.
Civil servants get free birthing services and there is no limit on the number of children they can have.
However, workers covered by the Social Security Fund can seek allowances for only two children at Bt13,000 each.
“The state should view this from a user perspective, not a provider perspective. Users demand standard and varied services,” she said.
Mingsan Khaosaard, chairwoman of a foundation for public policy studies, said it is time for ownership to be transferred to local administrative bodies.
Due to their capacity constraints, these bodies should be asked which services they would like to take over.
Some of them have been successful enough to be models of management for the others, but in the transition, university lecturers could groom the rest.
Sarinee Achavanuntakul, managing director of Sal Forest and a panellist, said those in power must first acknowledge that the new world context – under the influence of climate change, the digital economy and other factors – demands new ideas and inclusiveness.
That would be achieved only when they guarantee an ecosystem that allows freedom of speech.
“Listening to the like-minded won’t help pinpoint problems. Development needs participation from other parties…Political and economic inclusiveness are correlated. They must grow together,” she stressed.
She praised Brazil for inviting public comments on a new Internet bill, as well as some Indonesian government units’ initiative to let locals vote on budget appropriations.
The public sector spends a huge amount on public relations but little on promoting public participation, she said.
