The cabinet on Tuesday appointed Taweesilp Visanuyothin, an inspector-general at the Public Health Ministry, as the ministry's deputy permanent secretary as part of the reassignment of senior officials proposed by the ministry which will take effect on Oct 1.
Dr Taweesilp has been a familiar sight to viewers during televised daily updates on the coronavirus pandemic as he also serves as a spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
Dr Taweesilp was once a spokesman for the Department of Mental Health before assuming a similar role for the ministry.
He was director of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute from 2009 to 2013 and later became the Public Health Ministry's inspector-general on Oct 1, 2020.
Other reassigned senior officials include Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, who was made director-general of the Department of Disease Control.
Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, deputy permanent secretary, was appointed director-general of the Department of Medical Services.
The transfer of Yongyot Thammawut, director general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, to the post of deputy permanent secretary, has captured much attention as he is a member of the Rural Doctor Society, which is known to have engaged in anti-government activities.
