COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program

Government’s effective and responsive implementation of the program and use of funds highlighted the importance of being able to adjust allocations as demanded by the crisis. The government successfully utilized its ADB countercyclical loan to support its relief and stimulus program under its two pandemic emergency decrees and funds (FY2020 and FY2021). In particular; the Cabinet responded rapidly to the successive waves of COVID-19; allocating and reallocating budgets to work plans and projects where they were most needed at any one time. For instance; the government was able to quickly shift a significant amount of funds from the second emergency decree to healthcare when the country was significantly impacted by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The respective ministries that were made responsible for budget disbursements to healthcare services; financial aid and cash handout schemes; and economic rehabilitation work plans also disbursed the funds in a timely manner. Although a full impact assessment of the decrees is not yet available; more than 7;000 respondents in a 2022 government survey indicated their satisfaction with several of the government’s large support schemes; including the Khonlakrueng (50:50 copayment scheme) that boosted the purchasing power of special needs groups and state welfare cardholders. Government’s effective and responsive implementation of the program and use of funds highlighted importance of being able to adjust allocations as demanded by the crisis. The government successfully utilized its ADB countercyclical loan to support its relief and stimulus program under its two pandemic emergency decrees and funds (FY2020 and FY2021). In particular; the Cabinet responded rapidly to the successive waves of COVID-19; allocating and reallocating budgets to work plans and projects where they were most needed at any one time. For instance; the government was able to quickly shift a significant amount of funds from the second emergency decree to healthcare when the country was significantly impacted by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The respective ministries that were made responsible for budget disbursements to healthcare services; financial aid and cash handout schemes; and economic rehabilitation work plans also disbursed the funds in a timely manner. Although a full impact assessment of the decrees is not yet available; more than 7;000 respondents in a 2022 government survey indicated their satisfaction with several of the government’s large support schemes; including the Khonlakrueng (50:50 copayment scheme) that boosted the purchasing power of special needs groups and state welfare cardholders.