Dr. Warong urges the government to reconsider the National Disaster Insurance program and proposes establishing a self-managed fund to care for citizens instead.
On 3 September 2026, Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom, party-list MP of Thai Pakdee Party, commented on the Cabinet's decision to provide National Disaster Insurance covering 30,000 households for floods, storms, and earthquakes, offering initial relief of 5,000–10,000 baht, up to 100,000 baht per year, and 2 million baht for deaths. The government claims disaster relief costs of up to 40 billion baht annually, yet the Cabinet resolution dated 21 April 2026 reports average expenses from 2003–2026 at only around 5.3 billion baht. He questioned where the 40 billion baht figure originated, noting that if insurers are paid 15.5 billion baht annually on actual damage of only 5.3 billion baht, insurance companies would earn tens of billions in profits each year.
Dr. Warong added that the government should instead establish a “Disaster Relief Fund for the People,” accumulating 15.5 billion baht annually itself, and amend laws to speed up relief processes. Regardless of disaster severity, the government cannot evade responsibility or shift the burden onto citizens to claim insurance themselves.
“Insurance involves commissions. Is the 15.5 billion baht annual payment to private companies motivated by commissions? Setting up a fund would be more cost-effective and the government cannot deny its responsibility,” Dr. Warong concluded.