The cabinet meeting on Thursday 30, August 2011 has come to the following decision:
The Cabinet acknowledged the resolution adopted by the National Energy Policy Committee during its 4th meeting of this year on 26 August 2011 regarding measures to hold the transfer of funds into oil reserves from benzene and diesel fuels in order to ease the burden on consumers as proposed by the Ministry of Energy as follows:
1. Agree in principle to temporarily hold the transfer of funds into oil reserves from benzene (95) and diesel (91) fuels and direct the Energy Policy Management Committee to carry out the latter’s implementation as well as set the payment that will be transferred into the oil reserve in accordance with urgent policies to be implemented during this government’s first year in office. It also directed the Energy Policy Management Committee to follow-up on latest developments as well as look into the effect that this policy will have. The committee will then report its findings to the National Energy Policy Committee on an intermittent basis.
2. Agree to basic criteria in compensating businesses for surplus of oil both benzene (95 & 91) and diesel fuels based on the amount of oil left in storage depots as well as fuel stations. The Energy Policy Management Committee is entrusted with the implementation set the amount of money to be compensated.
3. Agree with the Prime Minister’s Directive (9/2554) regarding measures to resolve and prevent shortages in the supply of fuel by examining the amount of fuel in depots and fuel service stations from 24.00 hrs on the day when prices of fuel are to be adjusted as well as provide compensation for surplus of oil fuel service stations from the oil reserve.
The Cabinet acknowledge the report on the state and management of public health hazards caused by the recent flooding as well as potential rise of Hand Foot and Mouth disease (information as of 29 August 2011) as presented by the Ministry of Public Health.
1. Overall situation: 36 provinces have declared a state of emergency and at present 13 provinces remain flooded including Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Nayok, Ang Thon, Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya, Chai Nat, Ubon Ratchathani, Ranong, Surat Thani and Phuket.
2. Physician and Public Health Services: Mobilize physicians into affected areas 467 times totaling 58,423 health providers. The 5 most prevalent diseases include athlete’s foot, fever, muscle pain, skin diseases and headaches. In addition, the report also indicated patients with stress, high blood pressure, injuries and scares from accidents as well as snake bites. There has been no outbreak of diseases. In analyzing the psychological effect of 4,468 patients, the result showed that 269 reported having a high degree of stress, 1,1015 experienced trauma, 128 are on suicide watch and 144 patients require continued special care.
3. The amount of fatalities due to the floods totals 50. The rain cause of death was from drowning where 39 people lost their lives. 8 died from mudslides, 2 were crushed to death by a fallen tree, 1 died from electrocution while another remain missing
4. The Ministry of Public Health provides medicine and medical supplies: the status on the implementation of the 4 plans include the plan to prevent the outbreak of diseases, plan to reserve resources, plan to transport ill patients, and plan to improve services in case of flooding
Conclusion
1. At present, cases Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, which is viral illness of infants, has the potential to increase in many countries in Asia including Thailand. It is estimated that more infants will become ill and die this year relevant from last year.
2. The Ministry of Public Health has issued a directive to expeditiously the prevention and control of diseases throughout Thailand. It was asked for cooperation from other agencies and stakeholders especially the Ministry of Education and local administration organizations. The Ministry of Public Health is following latest development in order to support the prevention and control of diseases.
3. The Ministry of Public Health asked for the Cabinet’s support in instructing relevant agencies to cooperate and support the prevention and control diseases to reduce illness and deaths from Hand Foot and Mouth disease in infants in Thailand
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) August 30, 2011--