Ministry backs down on phone charging ban

The Public Health Ministry will review the announcement prohibiting its staff from using office supplies and assets, including a ban on mobile phone charging.

Permanent secretary Jessada Chokdamrongsuk acknowledged on Saturday that the announcement had drawn much criticism online and among ministry staff since some measures could affect operations.

“I ordered a review of the announcement to ensure it’s appropriate and beneficial to our operations and the public,” he said.

The announcement, which he signed on Dec 29, prohibits all 400,000 ministry staff from charging personal mobile devices at the office, citing the need to set clear boundaries to prevent conflicts of interest.

In addition to mobile phone charging, the following are also banned: personal use of office equipment, materials or supplies; personal use of ministry vehicles; allowing officials to drive ministry cars for personal business; parking personal vehicles overnight on ministry grounds; and cleaning personal or family vehicles on ministry grounds.

People took to social media to express their disagreement with the measures, especially the mobile charging ban, saying they were out of touch with reality.

Some commenters, however, supported the idea, claiming it was inappropriate for civil servants to be taking advantage of taxpayer-funded electricity.

Matichon Online ran a Facebook video clip posted by a man who claimed to be an electrical engineer on the cost of mobile phone charging.

He wrote that based on the calculation method used by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, if 100 staff in a hospital charge their mobile phones at the same time for one hour a day, the power fee is a mere 3.80 baht.

He questioned whether the ban was worth it in cases where a doctor might have to call colleagues to seek advice on patient treatment and didn't have a working phone.

"Let's not force Toon [Bodyslam] on another run to buy power banks for our doctors," read a comment on the clip.