The government clarified that the gold card budget was not used for events, stressing that the 60 billion baht has not disappeared but has been distributed to various service units. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) was ordered to prepare detailed information within 7 days, explaining the details and welcoming all audits.
On 4 August 2026, Ms. Lalida Pertvivattana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, addressed criticisms regarding the management of the National Health Security Fund (Gold Card) budget and allegations of using medical treatment funds for events. She said the government welcomes audits at every stage because public budget use must be transparent and verifiable. However, public communication should be based on facts to avoid misunderstandings about the country's health insurance system.
The Deputy Government Spokesperson stated that regarding doubts about the gold card budget exceeding 60 billion baht, Mr. Patthana Promphat, Minister of Public Health, raised questions to prompt a thorough review and explanation of the budget allocation structure, not as accusations of loss or corruption.
“After receiving clarifications from the National Health Security Office, it was confirmed that the funds have not disappeared but were distributed to various service units, including medical schools, hospitals under other agencies, private hospitals, local health funds, and local administrative organizations. Therefore, this audit is intended to detail budget allocation and enhance system transparency, not to accuse anyone of money loss.”
Ms. Lalida said the Minister of Public Health additionally ordered the NHSO's financial and fiscal subcommittee to prepare in-depth data within 7 days to clarify which agencies receive funds, under what legal basis, the disbursement criteria, and whether management efficiency can be improved.
“The government views raising questions about budget use as the duty of administrators aiming to ensure every baht benefits the public maximally. It is not meant to create conflicts with any agency but to elevate governance standards in national budget management.”
Regarding allegations that gold card funds were used for events, the Deputy Government Spokesperson confirmed these claims are unfounded since the National Health Security Fund budget is strictly for medical service payments, with clear disbursement rules that prohibit use for other purposes.
“The Minister of Public Health clearly explained that if hospitals conduct activities, the funding comes from hospital maintenance funds as per relevant regulations, not from the gold card medical treatment fund. Moreover, the Minister has no authority to transfer or direct the use of gold card funds for other activities as alleged.”
Ms. Lalida added that if anyone has information or evidence of improper budget use, the government is fully ready to allow authorized agencies to investigate. The government does not protect wrongdoers and emphasizes that all procurement must comply with laws and be verifiable.
“The government never refuses audits; on the contrary, it welcomes full investigations by authorized bodies. However, accusations of misusing the public’s gold card budget should be supported by clear evidence, as false claims could mislead the public and undermine confidence in the health insurance system used by over 47 million people.”
The Deputy Government Spokesperson further said the Ministry of Public Health is reviewing budget allocation methods to align with the actual workload of service units, especially hospitals under the ministry that serve most of the population. They are also studying appropriate budget distribution per category to enhance efficiency and fairness.
“The government is open to all constructive suggestions and ready to improve budget allocation systems for greater efficiency. However, discussions and criticisms should be based on facts, as all parties share the goal of strengthening Thailand's health insurance system, ensuring transparency and the best services for the public, not causing confusion in society.”