Pradorn, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the Thai Help Thai Plus project will kick off around June. It is expected that the government will pay 60% and citizens 40% monthly, initially using the central budget.
At 09:50 on 24 April 2026 at Government House, Mr. Pradorn Prissanantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and overseer of the Budget Bureau, spoke about the progress of the co-payment project under Thai Help Thai Plus. He said the Ministry of Finance is studying and developing the operational model, which is likely to be similar to before but with a new name replacing the co-payment scheme with "Thai Help Thai Plus," and adjusting the figures and proportions. It is possible the government will provide 60%, and citizens 40%.
When asked if the payment would remain at 2,400 baht, Mr. Pradorn said it would likely be paid monthly instead, for example, 1,000 or 1,500 baht per month. The number of months depends on the budget and the number of eligible citizens, as the model is still being calculated.
Mr. Pradorn said they are currently reviewing the central budget, which is estimated to be around 20 billion baht. The Budget Bureau is checking the amounts for fund transfers. When asked when the first phase would start, he said it is expected to begin around June.
Mr. Pradorn added that in the first phase, the budget will not come from transfers because if funds are transferred, they might not be available before July. Therefore, the project’s initial phase from June to July will likely use the central budget first.
When asked about the agenda for the Cabinet’s economic meeting on 27 April, Mr. Pradorn said the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs will propose the matter and outline the policy direction, after which further discussions will take place.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lawaron Saengsanit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, revealed that the project details should be confirmed by the Minister of Finance since the policy decisions are not yet finalized. The project’s target period remains around May to June.