Covid-19 now under Universal Health Coverage: Anutin

[snoop1130]

Covid-19 now under Universal Health Coverage: Anutin

By The Nation

 

 

A National Health Security Office (NHSO) committee gave the green light for Covid-19 to be listed under the Universal Health Coverage – from prevention and diagnosing to healthcare and rehabilitation – and has also approved a budget of Bt1 billion to support hospitals nationwide to fight the coronavirus, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

 

He confirmed that Thailand is currently in the second phrase, which covers the virus spread or local transmission. However, the NHSO has to prepare the money in advance as the global situation is seeing an upward trend in the number of infections.

 

The NHSO budget of Bt1 billion will cover Covid-19 tests. If this amount proves to be insufficient, the office will submit a request to the government for Bt3.5 billion. This budget will not come at the expense of other medical care.

 

The office has also prepared Bt6.2 billion to pay for maintaining medical equipment used to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

 

Aside from the Universal Health Coverage, there is the National Health Security fund that local offices could use to purchase medical supplies such as masks and alcohol germ-killer gels to prevent the Covid-19 virus from spreading.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383173

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-02

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[TheDark]

 

13 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The NHSO budget of Bt1 billion will cover Covid-19 tests.

This sounds like a good step forward. I wonder how much does one coronavirus test in Thailand costs?

That way it would be possible to calculate how many tests the Bt1B covers.

[kotsak]

1 hour ago, TheDark said:

 

This sounds like a good step forward. I wonder how much does one coronavirus test in Thailand costs?

That way it would be possible to calculate how many tests the Bt1B covers.

This forum post mentions prices..

 

 

[TheDark]

31 minutes ago, kotsak said:

This forum post mentions prices..

Thanks for the tip. So 3000-13000 baht per test. 

 

However those are private hospitals, which have to make profit. I'm curious how much testing costs for the government to do at local hospitals. Eg. How many tests the 1 billion baht budget will mean in real life. 

 

With the cheapest price on that list 3000 baht/test, it would give 333.000 tests per 1 billion. If the government price is 1/3 of that price, then 1 billion would cover 1 million tests. 

[DrTuner]

I'm waiting for the first TVF member to go get a test and report on how long the results took, together with confirmation that the RT-PCR test has been done. I'd guess weeks to get a result, if ever.

[mfd101]

 I wonder if 'universal' means, you know, universal. Guess I'll find out when or if my turn comes.

[justin case]

mercedes, bwm, etc can be ordered now

[spiekerjozef]

13 hours ago, TheDark said:

Thanks for the tip. So 3000-13000 baht per test. 

 

However those are private hospitals, which have to make profit.

They don't make just profit.

They make huge huge huge huge huge huge huge huge huge huge profits.

[tifino]

trouble is the announced Health Cover would only $protect the locals...

[Tayaout]

54 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

 I wonder if 'universal' means, you know, universal. Guess I'll find out when or if my turn comes.

Universal usually means that it covers only those who paid their cotisations to the thai healthcare system via income tax or are covered by their partner/parents.

Edited March 3, 2020 by Tayaout

[Sonhia]

Hot air...