PM not to cut health scheme despite cost problems

During an official visit Monday to Ban Nong Rian School in Surat Thani’s Ban Na Doem district, Prayut said he had no intention of ending public welfare programmes, despite chronic budget deficits. He added that the public should not believe reports to the contrary.
“Nowadays, Thailand suffers from a budget deficit every year because we have more expenses than income,” Prayut said. “This is the government’s task to solve, so there will be no abolition of public welfare programmes such as free transport, free education or free healthcare.
“Therefore, I ask you not to listen to provocative statements that I will cancel these welfare programmes. I am only looking where I can find more money and how to improve the public welfare.”
The prime minister also warned people not to protest against the government’s UHC plans, adding that the proposed database of individuals will be compiled using identity cards encoded with data such as that used in credit cards. The database will be used to identify people who do not have to pay for public-welfare services.
Prayut added that it would neither constitute a classification of people nor involve a stamp on ID cards that could stigmatise poor people.