Thailand’s Finance Ministry is fully prepared to launch the next phase of the “Half‑Half” co‑payment scheme, pending final approval by the government, as confirmed by Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.

The initiative could be implemented swiftly via the existing “Paotang” digital platform, which has been successfully used in previous phases.

If authorised, the scheme could commence as early as October 1, 2025, drawing on a twenty‑five billion baht allocation already reserved in the central budget for fiscal 2026 stimulus measures.

Should additional funds be required, they may be reallocated from the broader central budget.

Mr Sangsnit explained that merchants who still have the “Tung Ngern” application installed will be able to resume participation immediately once shop registration reopens.

The programme’s technical system is fully flexible, capable of accommodating different co‑payment ratios and eligibility categories, depending on how government policy defines them.

When asked about the economic impact of the scheme, Mr Sangsnit said it is too early to quantify, as the effect will depend on the programme’s scale and the daily volume of fund injections.

Nonetheless, he stressed that both the digital infrastructure and financial framework are ready to proceed immediately once the government issues its directive.

For context, a similar co‑payment stimulus was relaunched in previous administrations using the Paotang and Tung Ngern platforms, underscoring Thailand’s familiarity with such consumer‑focused stimulus tools.

The resumption of the scheme signals the government’s intent to support domestic spending and reduce living costs for consumers while strengthening small‑business participation.

With political authorisation still pending, the Finance Ministry stands ready to act on short notice, underlining the government’s preparedness to deploy an established mechanism to revive domestic economic activity.