Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul

  • Thailand Election News

    Election billboards for Anutin may be illegal

    The Rural Doctor Society raised concerns over the possible violation of election laws by 11,000 roadside billboards featuring Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The society posted on its Facebook page calling on the Election Commission (EC) to investigate the matter. The billboards are located outside provincial, district, subdistrict and community-level hospitals under the care of the…

  • Crime News

    Drug law amendment makes 2 meth pills dealing

    To effectively combat the illegal drug trade, a law is being amended in Thailand so that anyone caught in possession of more than one meth pill will now be considered a drug dealer. Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul announced this change yesterday, stating that the current regulation has been exploited by those who actually intend to sell the drugs.…

  • Bangkok News

    Motorcyclist aided after accident by Anutin

    Government officials are supposed to be in office to help the citizens of their country. And the Minister of Public Health holds a special duty to protect the health and safety of the people of Thailand. But one Thai resident found injured on Sathupradit Soi 19 got extra-personal one-on-one care from the Minister of Public Health after a crash. Last night…

  • Thailand video news

    Vaccination certificate requirement dropped and effective immediately | Thailand News Today

    The covid 19 travel requirements into Thailand. This morning we reported that any non-Thai traveler that is 18 and above must have either two doses of covid 19 vaccines, a letter of proof of recovery from covid in the past six months or a doctor’s letter explaining why they are not vaccinated. And this letter has been given to the…

  • Tourism News

    Anutin promises no 4am curfew; Tourism Ministry suggests Bangla Road trial

    The chances of a 4am national nightlife curfew are looking dim. Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul says his ministry strongly opposes the measure. Meanwhile, proponent Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has reduced his campaign from a nationwide extension to just making Bangla Road in Phuket a pilot area for the 4am curfew. The Ministry of Tourism had…

  • Health

    Medical tourism the new muse for Thai government

    The Thai government seems to flutter from demographic to demographic in search of a tourism get-rich-quick scheme. Now, the Ministry of Public Health has announced that medical tourism is the magic amulet that will rake in billions as Thailand recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. The ministry has created a new “Health for Wealth” campaign, which is banking on people in…

  • Pattaya News

    Raid roundup: Pattaya pubs, cannabis shops scrutinised

    Police in Pattaya are continuing their crackdown to clean up unseemly and illegal activities in an attempt to polish the tourist city’s reputation. Over the past few days, officers carried out inspections of cannabis shops around the city as well as raids on several entertainment venues that now face closure. Early this morning, two pubs in Pattaya were shut down…

  • Cannabis News

    Anutin responds to photo of cannabis smoking kids on Pattaya Beach

    Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul has responded after photos of a group of 10 year olds smoking cannabis from a bamboo bong on Pattaya Beach went viral on social media. The legalisation of cannabis came with very little regulation, but a prohibition on sales or consumption by anyone under 20 years old was put in place almost immediately. Anutin has been…

  • Cannabis News

    Cannabis fate discussed today by Narcotics Control Board

    Today is the day the future of cannabis in Thailand will be decided. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board is meeting to discuss proposals calling for the plant to once again be classified as a Type 5 drug. But some powerful political figures insist that the board is powerless to stop the legalised proliferation of cannabis. Minister of Public…

  • Cannabis News

    New moves to criminalise cannabis shrugged off by Anutin

    Amid moves to walk back the legalisation of cannabis, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul shrugged off the attempt to criminalise the herb again. Anutin, who also serves as deputy prime minister, says that the debate over cannabis is decided and done. Opponents of legalisation are pushing for cannabis to be reclassified as a Type 5 narcotic, which would be…

  • Road deaths

    4am curfew proposal protested by drunk driver victims

    Entertainment venue and nightlife operators are fervently pushing for a 4am closing time and have gained support from many key government officials. But a protest outside Government House pushed back against a later curfew, fueled by victims of drunk drivers and a coalition of anti-drink driving activists. The 4am curfew extension is expected to be officially proposed to the Cabinet…

  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand ends emergency Covid vaccine procurement

    The winding down of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit a new milestone as the emergency use procurement of vaccines has now ended. The Ministry of Public Health announced that it has officially cancelled its plans to obtain more vaccines against the coronavirus. The end of the programme was officially published in the Royal Gazette on Thursday and was put into…

  • Health

    Thailand joins the International Vaccine Institute

    During the two-day World Bio Summit 2022 in South Korea, Thailand officially joined the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). The induction as a member will allow the kingdom better information and access regarding developing and producing vaccines. The World Health Organisation and International Vaccine Institute hosted the summit and attended by Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul representing Thailand. He signed…

  • Covid-19 News

    Bang Sue’s Central Vaccination Centre officially closed

    Bang Sue Grand Station served as a hub for Covid-19 vaccines but now it has officially closed as the Central Vaccination Centre. The centre was opened last May to provide Bangkok residents with a place to receive their initial vaccines and follow-up boosters. But on September 30, the final needle was jabbed into a patient’s arm, the last vaccine at…

  • Events

    Phuket Vegetarian Festival underway, avoid firecrackers

    The Phuket Vegetarian Festival officially kicked off and will last for nine days. The festival launched yesterday with Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul in attendance at the opening ceremony. The ceremony began the festival which will run daily until October 4. Anutin, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and is considered a potential Bhumjaithai Party candidate for prime…

  • Cannabis News

    Anutin aims to clarify cannabis reform bill, not recriminalise it

    Critics say that the current cannabis laws have led to a raft of abuse of the plant, but Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul insists that no proof has been shown of any improper use. He fought back against the call to reclassify specific parts of the cannabis plant as an illegal narcotic. Decriminalisation did not include a lot of…

  • Cannabis News

    Anutin on cannabis: Going backwards is not an option

    After a cannabis bill aimed at moving the decriminalisation away from recreational use and defining it for medicinal purposes only was shot down this week in the House of Representatives, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul insists that criminalising the drug again is out of the question. Anutin is the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party who had originally pushed for…

  • Thailand Election News

    Hopefuls assess and prepare to run for prime minister

    While the Constitutional Court is mulling over when Prayut Chan-o-cha’s term as prime minister officially ends, with the suspended PM submitting his defence on Thursday, several hopefuls eyeing the premiership have assessed their chances and taken steps in preparation. The Sang Anakhot Thai Party (translating to “Building Thailand’s Future”) intends to nominate former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and has…