Anti-Smoking Coalition Rebuts Government Spokesperson Over Meeting Funding Claims
The National Federation for a Smoke-Free Thai Society has issued a statement denying allegations that public funds were misused for a luxury meeting.
On October 25, 2026, the National Federation for a Smoke-Free Thai Society released a formal statement addressing comments made by Dr. Ekkapob Pianpises, the government spokesperson. Dr. Ekkapob had previously posted criticisms suggesting that the organization used taxpayer money to host a lavish meeting.
In its rebuttal, the Federation clarified that the event was held to support the Ministry of Public Health’s provincial-level tobacco control policies. Furthermore, the organization explicitly stated that the venue used for the meeting was provided by a private sector partner and that no funding from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) was utilized for the event. The Federation’s statement serves as a direct response to the spokesperson's public allegations regarding the misuse of public resources.
For residents and travelers, this incident highlights ongoing public discourse regarding the transparency of non-governmental organizations and their relationship with government health initiatives. While the Federation has provided its account of the funding and venue, the government spokesperson has not yet issued a follow-up response. It remains to be confirmed whether further investigations into the organization's financial practices will be pursued by the government or if this statement will resolve the public dispute.
