The Cabinet met on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved the following proposals of Ministry of Public Health:
1) Approved draft 12th National Healthcare Development Plan (B.E. 2560-2564)
2) Approved for concerned agencies (i.e., Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education) and healthcare networks to adopt the 12th National Healthcare Development Plan (B.E. 2560-2564) as guideline for implementation and operation.
The 12th National Healthcare Development Plan (B.E. 2560-2564) is developed under the framework of 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (B.E. 2560-2564), and in line with the 20-year National Strategy, UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Thailand 4.0 policy. The plan is composed of the following 4 strategies: 1) pro-actively promoting Thai people’s health; 2) promoting fairness and reducing disparity in healthcare services; 3) developing and creating mechanisms to enhance capacity of human resources in healthcare; and 4) developing and strengthening health care system governance.
The cabinet approved the following proposals made by Ministry of Public Health:
1) Approved National Strategy for Preparedness, Prevention, and Solution to Emerging Infectious Diseases (B.E. 2560-2564)
2) Approved for concerned agencies to translate the National Strategy for Preparedness, Prevention, and Solution to Emerging Infectious Diseases (B.E. 2560-2564) into action.
The National Strategy is composed of:
1) First strategy: Developing emergency response plan for public health disasters
2) Second strategy: Developing surveillance, prevention, treatment and control system for emerging infectious diseases
3) Third Strategy: Developing risk communication and public relations on emerging infectious diseases
4) Fourth strategy: Strengthening international cooperation
5) Fifth strategy: Promoting participation of private and civil society sectors in preventing and controlling emerging infectious diseases
6) Sixth strategy: Promoting knowledge management, and R&D
The cabinet acknowledged and approved the proposal of Ministry of Digital Economy and Society as follows:
1) Acknowledged outcome of the 2/2016 meeting of Committee for Digital Economy and Society on November 2, 2016 which approved in principle the draft action plan for mobilization of the 5-year strategic-based Digital Thailand Plan (B.E. 2560-2564).
2) Approved operational approach for the development of telecommunications infrastructure, and assigned concerned state enterprise to implement the project.
3) Assigned TOT Public Company Limited to undertake nationwide expansion of high-speed internet network, and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited to enhance capacity of international internet infrastructure in order for Thailand to become ASEAN Digital Hub.
4) Assigned Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to develop high-speed Internet infrastructure to cover 24,700 villages, and Office of The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to do the same for another 15,732 villages.
5) Assigned Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and concerned agencies to undertake the followings:
(a) Oversee and implement projects in a transparent and accountable manner according to related laws, regulations, and cabinet’s resolutions
(b) Lay out assets/network management plan by taking into account best interests of the Government and the public, and in accordance with related laws and regulations.
(c) Evaluate project accomplishments to ensure public benefits, and goal achievement.
6) Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is to seek advices from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Science and Technology, NESDB, and Monitoring and Auditing Committee on Fiscal Expenditures in implementing related projects.
The cabinet approved the proposal made by the Board of Investment (BOI) as follows:
1) Approved the Second Protocol to Amend ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA)
2) Approved for Minister of Commerce to endorse the Protocol. Should there be an amendment that does not affect gist of the document and is not against national interests, Ministry of Commerce is to proceed according to the cabinet’s resolution on June 30, 2015, and submit to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for its approval.
3) Assigned Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue the Full Powers to Minister of Commerce for endorsement of the Protocol.
4) Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also to submit the Protocol to ASEAN Secretary General after NLA’s approval of the document.
The Protocol has been amended on the part about investment-related rights of “Permanent Residents (PR)” of countries that have a status fully equivalent to that of a citizen (Brunei, the Federation of Malaya, and Republic of Singapore). The amendment does not impact Thailand in any way as PR investors in the country do not have a status fully equivalent to that of a citizen.
The cabinet approved the following proposals of Ministry of Commerce:
1) Approved extension of 1st pilot project for the implementation of ASEAN-wide Self – Certification (AWSC) until AWSC system is officially in effect.
2) Assigned Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a notification to ASEAN Secretary General by December 31, 2016 on Thailand’s approval of extension of the 1st pilot project for the implementation of ASEAN-wide Self – Certification (AWSC) until AWSC system is officially in effect.
AWSC is aimed for ASEAN member countries to adopt the same system of self-certification in order to facilitate intra-ASEAN international trade, promote regional production network, promote increased usage of the ATIGA scheme, reduce cost of doing business, and enhance ASEAN competitiveness.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) December 07, 2016 --