House panel seeks action on 10,000 suspected birth cases

A parliamentary health committee has uncovered more than 10,000 suspected birth registration cases involving possible false parentage claims in a review of potential attempts to obtain Thai nationality through irregular registration processes.

Sakoltee Phattiyakul, chairman of the House of Representatives’ Public Health Committee, said on Thursday (September 3) that the committee had reviewed progress in investigating alleged birth registration schemes involving claims that a Thai parent-child relationship existed when questions had been raised over the accuracy of those records.

The committee invited officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), Royal Thai Police and Department of Health Service Support to provide updates.

The investigation revealed a larger scale of suspected irregularities than initially expected after DOPA conducted a retrospective review covering 2012 to 2026.

The review identified more than 10,000 cases involving records in which the father was listed as Thai and the mother as foreign, which have been classified as requiring further examination.

Authorities stressed that the figure represents suspected cases only and does not mean all cases have been confirmed as fraudulent birth registrations.

Bangkok flags 879 suspected cases across 29 districts

Sakolthee said Bangkok officials previously reported to the committee on July 23, 2026, that a review covering 2017 to 2026 had identified 879 suspected cases across 29 districts.

Of these cases, 27 birth certificates have been revoked after initial investigations found that the registrations were incorrect.

A further 810 cases remain under examination.

Authorities will continue by questioning parents and related individuals, reviewing documents and examining supporting evidence. Some cases may involve individuals admitting involvement during the investigation process.

The review also identified possible involvement of government officials at around three to four district offices. At Thon Buri district office, officials have already been removed from duty pending further action.

The committee said the issue requires investigation beyond individuals involved in the registrations, including the procedures for accepting birth notifications, issuing official documents and the role of government personnel.

Committee proposes DNA verification for high-risk cases

One of the committee’s key proposals is a review of DNA testing requirements to confirm biological relationships between parents and children in cases where there are concerns over the accuracy of parentage claims.

Currently, DNA testing in such cases depends on officials’ discretion and is not required in all circumstances.

Sakolthee said clear criteria may be needed to identify cases where DNA verification should become mandatory due to concerns over claimed family relationships.

He warned that delays could create future legal complications, as some children involved in cases under review could reach adulthood within the next five to six years and gain the ability to hold assets.

However, he said any mandatory DNA testing framework must be carefully designed to protect the rights of children and individuals who are not connected to wrongdoing.

Private hospitals face scrutiny over birth registration procedures

The committee has also raised concerns over birth registration processes at private hospitals.

Initial checks identified suspected irregularities involving 10 private hospitals, including 160 suspected cases in Thon Buri district alone.

Sakolthee questioned whether the Ministry of Public Health’s monitoring system was sufficiently proactive, saying investigations into the hospitals began after the Royal Thai Police provided documents and evidence.

He urged the ministry to establish broader inspection measures for hospitals and birth registration procedures, particularly in locations showing unusual patterns.

The committee said if the suspected nationality-related registration scheme is confirmed, the issue would extend beyond health services and documentation to national security concerns.

Committee calls for stronger digital birth registration systems

Another issue raised by the committee was the continued use of handwritten birth records at some private hospitals instead of electronic registration systems.

Sakolthee said manual records could create greater risks of errors or unauthorised changes compared with electronic systems that allow easier tracking and verification.

DOPA information shows that government hospitals have already adopted electronic birth registration systems.

The committee recommended that private hospitals move towards similar systems to improve transparency and traceability.

Sakolthee stressed that electronic systems do not eliminate the possibility of suspicious cases occurring in government hospitals, noting that detailed checks have not yet been completed and further reviews may identify additional cases.

Agencies urged to shift towards proactive investigations

The Public Health Committee called on relevant agencies, particularly the Ministry of Public Health and the Royal Thai Police, to move from reactive responses towards proactive investigations.

The committee said health authorities should strengthen oversight of hospitals and birth registration procedures, while police should expand investigations beyond individuals allegedly involved to identify possible organisers, brokers, coordinators or wider networks.

Sakolthee said prosecuting only those directly involved in the final stage would not prevent the issue from recurring unless investigators could trace the wider process behind the suspected registrations.

He urged the police chief to accelerate investigations, saying authorities have not yet established clear links to the full alleged network.