Thai Senator Urges Overhaul of Disaster and EMS Funding
Dr. Phetchompoo (Phetsakul) Pia-yura reveals 20-year disaster losses hit 2.2 trillion baht and proposes urgent EMS financial reforms.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Thailand disaster damages over 20 years totaled 2.2 trillion baht with 10,549 deaths.
- The Cabinet approved a new disaster victims relief and rehabilitation fund.
- EMS missions surged to 2,316,345 cases in 2025 while budget allocation faces cuts.
- Proposing Value-Based Payment to calculate compensation based on real operational costs.
On August 16, 2026, Dr. Phetosakorn Pia-yura, Senator and Chairman of the Working Group on Crisis Management and Emergency Medical Reform via Digital Technology under the Senate Committee on Information Technology, Communication, and Telecommunications, revealed the outcomes of the 6th working group meeting regarding budget situations and emergency medical systems.
Analyzing 95 major disasters over the past 20 years between 2004 and 2027, the data showed that 67% were floods and droughts. Droughts alone cumulatively affected 151 million people or nearly 42 million households. Total economic damages reached 2.2 trillion baht, affecting over 68 million people and claiming 10,549 lives, demonstrating that disasters represent systemic risks requiring robust financial investments.
The working group is therefore pushing for the establishment of the “Disaster Victims Assistance and Rehabilitation Fund,” approved by the Cabinet, alongside amendments to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act B.E. 2550 (2007). This aims to update the 18-year-old law and create flexible financial mechanisms rather than relying solely on central government budgets, which allocated 123.667 billion baht for disaster relief between 2003 and 2026.
"All these figures serve as a warning that disasters are not isolated incidents, but systemic risks ready to cause continuous losses."
Dr. Phetosakorn Pia-yura
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Regarding the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system, Dr. Phetosakorn noted that the fund's financial status is concerning as operational tasks outpace the budget. Emergency operations rose from 1,794,605 cases in 2019 to 2,316,345 cases in 2025, a 29.07% increase. Meanwhile, the 2027 budget was slashed to 825.79 million baht, causing compensation payment arrears to operational units and forcing the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) to request 651.67 million baht from central emergency funds.
The budget crisis facing NIEM and the EMS system highlights structural flaws in Thailand's public services, where operational burdens grow alongside an aging society while funding mechanisms remain rigid. Transitioning toward Value-Based Payment shifts the focus from constrained budgeting to reflecting true operational costs—such as air ambulance expenses—to preserve citizens' critical life-saving moments.
NIEM's reform strategy aims to shift from a reactive approach to proactive prevention through five core missions, including expanding community first responder units, scaling sub-district operations, and utilizing the NDEMS digital system, which recorded 45,419 usages. Furthermore, five measures were introduced to stabilize finances, encompassing technology-driven benefit packages, updated compensation rates effective July 1, 2026, Value-Based Payment adoption, and integration with external healthcare funds.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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