The Pithak Kan Foundation announced a temporary suspension of services following a fuel shortage. They clarified that only non-urgent cases are affected to conserve diesel, but emergency cases will continue to be served as usual.
On 19 Mar 2026 GMT+7, reporters noted a controversy after the "Pithak Kan Foundation Headquarters" Facebook page posted a notice about temporarily halting services due to a fuel shortage. This announcement caused public alarm, as people feared they might not be able to receive help from the foundation in urgent situations as before.
Regarding this, reporters contacted Mr. Pairoj Thanaboonkan, an executive of the Pithak Kan Foundation, who explained that the notice was issued because the foundation had been informed by the fuel station owners they use that diesel supplies were running low. If supplies become insufficient, the foundation might have to use premium diesel temporarily, which costs over 10 baht more per liter than regular diesel. While occasional use of premium diesel is manageable, frequent use would be unaffordable given the price difference. Meanwhile, the foundation's vehicles must remain on standby to provide 24-hour service to the public.
After negotiations with fuel stations in the city, owners promised to reserve enough diesel for the foundation. However, the foundation must prepare contingency plans for possible diesel shortages. As a result, they announced a suspension of services for non-urgent cases such as vehicles running out of fuel, flat tires, reptile capture, or patient transportation back from hospitals. During this period, they advise using alternative services like ride-hailing apps. The foundation needs to conserve fuel for emergency patients and urgent accidents. They reaffirmed that emergency and accident cases can still call the foundation or dial 1669 for assistance as usual.
Additionally, the foundation requests district chiefs and officials responsible for various districts to negotiate with local fuel station owners to facilitate ambulance refueling without waiting in line. Previously, when foundation vehicles queued for fuel cards, diesel sometimes ran out before their turn, causing problems. The foundation asks districts to help ensure ambulances can refuel promptly and in the required amounts, enabling the foundation to continue serving the public effectively in each area.
