“Get medicines at pharmacies” ready for roll-out tomorrow

By The Nation

 

 

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) will implement the “Get medicines at pharmacies” project tomorrow (October 1), initially at 50 hospitals and more than 500 approved drug stores. 

 

It is an initiative of the Ministry of Public Health to ease crowded conditions at hospital dispensaries. Patients can now present a prescription from physician for medicines at modern pharmacies near their homes.

 

“To get prescribed drugs at pharmacies, patients must meet the following criteria. They must hold a state-welfare gold card and being diagnosed with either diabetes, high blood pressure, mental illness or other uncomplicated chronic diseases.” said Dr Prajakwich Lepnak, Deputy Secretary of NHSO. 

 

Most importantly, it must be done with mutual consent of the physician and the patient, he added. 

 

Prajakwich further explained that the NHSO had established a web-based programme for pharmacists to send reports of prescribed drugs supplied to patients, which will enable hospitals to keep track of their patients’ drug usage.

 

Siripan Muensin, Director of NHSO’s Bureau of Information Technology, said the programme would send data of prescribed drugs handed out at pharmacies to NHSO for the office to pay the costs every 15 days.

 

“We expect to add a feature to authenticate patient’s identity with a Smart Card within the next 3-6 months,” said Siripan.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30376910

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-30

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So what about basic medications, can they also be bought outside, to reduce the massive overcharging at hospitals?

 

What about Thais who don't have a gold card?

How many cards does the gov't want every Thai citizens to carry? 

 

Why so complicated, why not make it law that patients (all patients / all medical conditions / all medicines) can buy their prescribed medicines outside if they wish? 

Edited September 30, 20196 yr by scorecard

We have had this system in Europe for years. Saves resources, and queues in Hospitals.

It's my understanding that pharmacists are licensed in Thailand. What is the problem with allowing these licensed individuals to dispense controlled prescription meds? Yes, it will hurt the hospital bottom lines, but saving money for people is a good thing.

 

Xenophobia rules again??   patient must have a state-welfare gold card

 

“To get prescribed drugs at pharmacies, patients must meet the following criteria. They must hold a state-welfare gold card and being diagnosed with either diabetes, high blood pressure, mental illness or other uncomplicated chronic diseases.” said Dr Prajakwich Lepnak, Deputy Secretary of NHSO. 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30376910

 

-- [emoji767] Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-30 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

 

 

 

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I would have thought that mental illness was one of the most complicated conditions to treat! Just shows that here in Thailand it is a very low priority:-(

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Most importantly, it must be done with mutual consent of the physician and the patient, he added. 

 

I can see half of these conditions being met; but don't expect the doctor to give up his hospital's nice little earner.

3 hours ago, ehs818 said:

Yes, it will hurt the hospital bottom lines, but saving money for people is a good thing.

 

You've covered two points very adequately:

hurting the hospitals bottom line is a strictly taboo subject.
saving peoples money has never figured in their thinking.

 

Doesn't Thai citizens get their treatment and medicines for free?

This is not about buying medecine at a pharmacy. That, except for restricted/controlled drugs, people can already do.

It is about patients covered under the "gold card" scheme (which is the majority of Thais) being able to obtain medication for free under the scheme at private pharmacies rather than only at hospitals.

Presumably some mechanism has been developed for the state to reimburse the pharmacies.

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Not available to Farang I guess?

3 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Not available to Farang I guess?

why would it be, its the thai national health scheme for dispensing state paid medication to people who earn less than 30k thai baht a year

 

A

4 hours ago, legend49 said:

Xenophobia rules again??   patient must have a state-welfare gold card

how is state sponsored healthcare for citizens xenophobic?
why would the thai government offer welfare to foreigners?

Been buying my prescription drugs at Fascino for 6 years and my Doctor doesn't complain

Quote:-

"being diagnosed with either diabetes"

Will Insulin be included or will we still have to wait hours in a Government Hospital (as a private patient) for a Doctor's signature to buy Insulin??

Has anyone ever noticed how many pharmacys are in thailand. I needed a special something so went looking. Just in chalong there are over 100 pharmacys,its rediculouse . I went to 300 pharmacys in phuket and found what i needed at 3. 1 asked 350 bht another asked 420 bht another asked 500 bht. Any way screw them as i needed a years worth and here it would cost 500.00 usd so i bought from my home country usa 16.00 for a years worth at costco. This place is going down. So fast. Its changed so much in past 4 years its unrecognizable in the value section. Its just gouge the farang. Thailand you deserve all u get.