Another 106 Bangkok clinics accused in Bt195m graft probe

[webfact]

Another 106 Bangkok clinics accused in Bt195m graft probe

By The Nation

 

 

Health officials have accused another 106 Bangkok hospitals and clinics of defrauding Thailand’s universal healthcare service, in a scandal involving 1 million fake services and losses to the state of about Bt195 million.

 

An initial National Health Security Office (NHSO) probe found corruption at 18 clinics and hospitals, before further investigations uncovered graft at 64 and then 106 facilities, for a total of 188.

 

The NHSO has cancelled contracts with 64 hospitals and clinics that it says made up patients’ names to withdraw government money. All 188 facilities will be ordered to pay back the damages or face legal action.

 

Two subcommittees, on payment risk and on the medical service system, will be established to close the loophole that enabled the fraud.

 

NHSO secretary-general Sakchai Kanjanawatana said the third batch of corrupt clinics and hospitals may have affected 1 million people and cost the state Bt195 million.

 

The NHSO has filed a civil case with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) which will inspect medical records for the past 10 years.

 

He said the investigation only covered Greater Bangkok and did not affect access to state medical services in other provinces.

 

Dr Karoon Kuntiranont, deputy secretary-general of the NHSO, said that 70 per cent of 800,000 gold cardholders from the second batch of corrupt clinics and hospitals were fake claims.

 

The remaining 30 per cent of genuine patients would be taken care of by other health service centres.

 

Among them are 2,166 HIV patients, 295 kidney disease patients, 132 patients with operation appointments, 5,000 antenatal care clients, and people suffering chronic diseases.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30394970

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-09-23

 

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[Thaiwrath]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

All 188 facilities will be ordered to pay back the damages or face legal action.

This is just one part of the Thai justice system that is horribly wrong, they should face legal action anyway.

This is more or less saying that if somebody steals and gets caught, pay it back or face legal action, however, if you don't get caught, fair play, making their only crime being "getting caught" ! 

Edited September 22, 2020 by Thaiwrath

[steven100]

wow !    70% of claims were fake,  that's a huge number.  PM should get onto this asap. 

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

NHSO secretary-general Sakchai Kanjanawatana said the third batch of corrupt clinics and hospitals may have affected 1 million people and cost the state Bt195 million.

195 baht each , whoa !!!! Still I guess it adds up.

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

will inspect medical records for the past 10 years.

Banks, hospitals, clinics ripping off the state for decades, nice national mentality! The state has been ripping off the population for even longer! There seems to be no honor among thieves!

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Thaiwrath said:

This is just one part of the Thai justice system that is horribly wrong, they should face legal action anyway.

This is more or less saying that if somebody steals and gets caught, pay it back or face legal action, however, if you don't get caught, fair play, making their only crime being "getting caught" ! 

Correct, prosecution should be mandatory. If not charges then the appropriate authorities should be charged with dereliction of duty, which should be a very serious charge.

[loong]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Two subcommittees, on payment risk and on the medical service system, will be established to close the loophole that enabled the fraud.

They have obviously identified the loophole so why do they need 2 subcommittees to investigate and close it??

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

wow !    70% of claims were fake,  that's a huge number.  PM should get onto this asap. 

He promised he would 6 years ago.. but you know, he's been busy with other stuff !

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, loong said:

They have obviously identified the loophole so why do they need 2 subcommittees to investigate and close it??

It's  necessary to ensure that the names of the owners of the clinics is filtered to ensure that (ahem) there is no embarrassment........

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

He promised he would 6 years ago.. but you know, he's been busy with other stuff !

Seems to me he's lost and knows it, and doesn't know what to do next.

[hotchilli]

29 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Seems to me he's lost and knows it, and doesn't know what to do next.

it's starting to crumble & he's hanging on for as long as possible.

[Bender Rodriguez]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

involving 1 million fake services and losses to the state of about Bt195 million.

djees, when I went to a hospital , my bill was never less than a few thousand baht

 

so one visit is FREE for thais, yes, but billed only 195 baht ?

[ChipButty]

Until you start banging these <deleted> up in jail its never going to stop