Deputy chief defends use of budget

A CONTROVERSIAL figure in the country’s healthcare sector yesterday fiercely defended the Thai Health Promotion Foundation’s use of its budget, as the body comes under intense public scrutiny. 

“It’s legal for ThaiHealth to engage other non-profit social organisations with its budget,” ThaiHealth’s deputy manager, Dr Wichai Chokewiwat, said.

Though widely recognised and respected, Wichai is no stranger to controversy and is directly in the line of fire over allegations of misuse of funds and conflict of interest, as he chairs five foundations that received Bt100 million in funding from ThaiHealth for 13 projects. 

The five bodies are the Mitthaprab Bambad Foundation, the Rural Doctor Foundation, the Foundation for Children, the Komol Khemthong Foundation and the 14 Tula Foundation.

The Komol Khemthong Foundation promotes education and voluntary spirit, while the 14 Tula Foundation promotes democracy.

Hence, some of the five foundations that got funds from ThaiHealth are not directly related to health promotion and may not really qualify for sponsorship from the organisation. 

As the hot issue of conflict of interest and fund misuse at ThaiHealth was raised by the Office of the Auditor-General, Wichai put up a stern defence yesterday. 

He stressed that every project supported by ThaiHealth was relevant to the foundation’s objectives and fit the term “health promotion”, as defined by both ThaiHealth and the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

“It is clearly stated in the seventh sentence of Section 18 of the ThaiHealth Act that members of the ThaiHealth committee must not involve themselves in any enterprise that conflicts with the foundation’s objectives excluding a social enterprise, and must not seek income,” he said. “Therefore, I am not breaking the law because, even though I am in a high position at ThaiHealth, the [five] foundations that I am overseeing were set up for the [benefit of] society, and are non-profit.” 

Wichai further stated that as the head of these foundations, he had not been involved with ThaiHealth’s approval of their sponsorship, because the ThaiHealth committee has ruled that persons connectedto a project applying for funding will not take part in the process of consideration.

As for why some projects from the foundations he chairs were supported by ThaiHealth even though they were not directly related to health, he said that every project granted funding was indeed related to the ThaiHealth’s objectives.

“We have a broad  [definition of] health promotion, because successful health promotion needs wide corroboration from all factors. Our definition of health promotion meetsthat of the WHO,” he said.

Wichai cited projects undertaken by the 14 Tula Foundation, which supported the well-being of the people. “The [14 Tula] foundation’s duty is to support equality, rights and democracy, which are the foundations of a healthy society,” he said.

On Monday, Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya said Sections 3, 10 and 18 of ThaiHealth’s regulations would have to be amended to narrow the definition of health promotion and close the door for potential conflicts of interest.

ThaiHealth acting manager Supreeda Adulyanon said at a press conference yesterday that it was possible for ThaiHealth executives to sit on the board of the non-profit organisations and these organisations could apply for funds legally.

“Our foundation always follows rules to prevent conflicts of interest. Furthermore, these social enterprises usually invite famous figures to be their head, and do not own or have an interest in the organisations,” Supreeda explained. “So I would like society to understand this truth”.