The NBTC Selection Committee unanimously determined that Dr. Hai — Dr. Sorn Boonbaichaiyapruck, Chairman of the NBTC Board, has disqualifying characteristics and is considered to have forfeited his right to assume the position. Meanwhile, Dr. Supat submitted additional evidence.
On 17 July 2026, at the CA429 Commission meeting room, the NBTC Selection Committee convened to consider and adjudicate the qualifications of Dr. Sorn Boonbaichaiyapruck or “Dr. Hai” Chairman of the NBTC. The issue was whether he lacked the qualifications to hold the position, a matter that attracted considerable attention due to its potential impact on the chairman's status and the organization's future operations.
Dr. Supat Hasuwannakit, former chairman of the Rural Doctors Association, submitted a letter with evidence to the NBTC Selection Board for consideration in deciding Dr. Sorn’s qualifications. He stated that today’s review concerns Dr. Sorn’s qualifications under the Frequency Allocation, Radio, Television and Telecommunications Act B.E. 2553, which clearly requires in Section 18 that an individual must resign within 15 days after being selected by the Senate as an NBTC commissioner, corresponding to 11 January 2022. However, Dr. Sorn remained a temporary employee as a physician, receiving hourly wages from the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, starting 8 March 2022. Examination of Mahidol University’s 2018 regulations on income-based employees confirmed that “temporary employee” includes monthly, daily, and hourly contract workers.
Additionally, documentary evidence such as personal income tax returns (Form P.N.D. 90) and payment receipts from premium clinic consultations between January and April 2022—overlapping with his NBTC appointment period—show monthly income averaging 20,000 to 50,000 baht. Medical regulations require that anyone treating patients in a state hospital must hold official status as a regular or duly authorized employee, not merely as a “volunteer physician” without legal binding. This situation is thus considered a violation of Section 8 (2) of the Frequency Allocation Act B.E. 2553 and its amendments, which mandate that selected individuals must resign from all state employee or official positions before assuming office.
Dr. Supat further stated that beyond his state employee status, investigations found Dr. Sorn’s clinical duty schedules listed on websites of several private and public hospitals; these schedules have since been removed from hospital databases. This behavior raises concerns of conflict of interest under Section 8 (3), since NBTC commissioners are expected by law to serve full-time under Section 26. Dividing time between multiple medical practices in private hospitals may contradict the law’s intent.
Important evidence was presented showing that on 11 January 2022, Dr. Sorn was selected to prepare for the NBTC position, which legally prohibits taking on additional roles. Nevertheless, in February 2022, a major bank verbally invited Dr. Sorn to become an independent director, an offer he accepted and formally applied for. On 12 April 2022, the bank’s shareholders approved his appointment, and on 13 April 2022, the Royal Decree appointed him as NBTC commissioner.
The evidence indicated that after royal appointment, Dr. Sorn did not immediately resign from the bank directorship but instead requested a postponement of assuming the position. At the NBTC’s 9th meeting in April 2022, the matter was referred to the Office of the Council of State for interpretation regarding dual roles. Subsequently, the issue was withdrawn, possibly due to an unfavorable interpretation by the Council of State, to reduce pressure.
Previously, Dr. Sorn’s lack of qualifications had been reviewed by the Senate’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Committee in 2024, which decisively ruled he was unqualified. However, during the tenure of Senate President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, this matter was not scheduled for further consideration, resulting in the report being shelved for over two years. The new evidence submitted today is thus handed over to the current NBTC Selection Committee, comprising high-level experts such as representatives from the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Supreme Administrative Court (including Mr. Wissanu), and Mr. Vithai Ratanakorn, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, who has expertise in banking structures. They are expected to deliberate and openly vote today.
Dr. Supat added that society and consumers closely watch this decision because the NBTC is an independent agency directly affecting public interests. Persistent unresolved issues include rising internet and mobile service prices, emerging telecommunications monopolies, and challenges facing digital television. A clear ruling today would establish a governance precedent, enabling the NBTC to effectively protect public interests.
Due to high public interest in today’s NBTC Selection Committee meeting, media were present to observe and photograph the proceedings. However, strict controls prohibited photography inside the meeting room, with 3-4 parliamentary police officers stationed at the door enforcing a ban on recording or standing near the entrance.
At 11:15 a.m., the NBTC Selection Committee unanimously resolved that Professor Clinical Dr. Sorn Boonbaichaiyapruck, NBTC Chairman, possesses disqualifying characteristics under Section 8 (2) of the Frequency Allocation Act B.E. 2553, and is therefore deemed to have forfeited his right to the NBTC commissioner position under Section 18 of the same Act, as amended by the Frequency Allocation Act (No. 4) B.E. 2565. This announcement is hereby made public.
