The government urges village health volunteers (VHVs) not to worry, reaffirming that compensation remains under the Ministry of Public Health's oversight with no impact despite the transfer of duties.
On 20 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that some village health volunteers (VHVs) have been confused about the compensation payment process and performance verification, affecting their work and morale due to the transfer of public health responsibilities to local administrative organizations.
She clarified that compensation payments for VHVs follow the Cabinet resolution dated 23 Mar 2021, which allocates the subsidy budget for VHV compensation under the Ministry of Public Health. The Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) is responsible for proposing the budget and managing it. The compensation disbursement follows specific legal frameworks to ensure rigor, accuracy, transparency, and uniform standards nationwide.
Ms. Ploytale explained that the current VHV performance verification separates clearly into two processes: first, VHVs continue to work with staff at public health service centers (Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals); second, the verification of work performance for compensation payment involves supervision and control. Village/community VHV chairpersons certify reports and send them to subdistrict VHV chairpersons, who then forward them to district public health offices for review and confirmation before submission to provincial public health offices and finally to the DHSS.
“The government continually prioritizes developing VHVs' capabilities to enhance their protection, rights, and welfare to meet workers' needs. Although Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals have transferred responsibilities to Provincial Administrative Organizations, VHVs will continue integrated work with all primary care units to provide seamless community health care. We urge VHVs not to worry and to perform their roles and duties as intended, dedicating themselves as public health volunteers to help communities be self-reliant and participate in comprehensive health care. They serve as the key mechanism and main link between public health agencies and the community to foster grassroots health behavior changes, ensuring sustainable good health for the community,” Ms. Ploytale said.