By: Paul Rujopakarn

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has announced that holders of 30-baht universal health care cards, also known as "gold card" users, can now seek medical treatment at primary care facilities nationwide.

 

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, users can receive treatment without being asked for referral documents from the places where they were registered. He noted that the reform already took place in some provinces last year, and will now be expanded nationwide as a New Year’s gift for users of the program.

 

National Health Security Office (NHSO) Secretary-General Jadet Thammathat-aree said the office is prepared for the change. He added that a fund has been set aside for hospitals to request reimbursement for users seeking treatment outside of their designated areas.

 

The public health minister meanwhile stressed that further upgrades to the universal health care service are a top priority. He has instructed the Ministry and the NHSO to implement changes that reduce unnecessary steps for card holders and provide them with easier access to treatment.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-01-03

 

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A bit odd given that cards have nto been issued for quite some time now, most people do nto have one.

 

Should also note that this policy apparently applies only to "primary care facilities". In other words health centers, not hospitals.

Nicely timed for probable early election. 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

A bit odd given that cards have nto been issued for quite some time now, most people do nto have one.

 

Should also note that this policy apparently applies only to "primary care facilities". In other words health centers, not hospitals.

Yes, the first paragraph mentions "primary care facilities", but in the third paragraph it says that "a fund has been set aside for hospitals to request reimbursement for users seeking treatment outside of their designated areas". So, it must be possible to seek treatment at hospitals outside your normal area without a referral (at least to some extent).

Not necessarily. More likely just bad reporting/translation ("health facility" into hospital").

 

In theory people are not supposed to seek care directly at hospitals but rather be referred by their local Health Center, in practice that requirement has long been ignored but they seem to be trying now to enforce it.

 

What is not clear is what happens if someone goes to a HC and they refer them to hospital-- can it then be the hospital this HC is in the catchment area of?

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Not necessarily. More likely just bad reporting/translation ("health facility" into hospital").

 

In theory people are mot supposed to seek care directly at hospitals but rather be referred by their local Health Center, in practice that requirement has long been ignored but they seem to be trying now to enforce it.

 

What is not clear is what happens if someone goes to a HC and they refer them to hospital-- can it then be the hospital this HC is ib rhe catchment area of?

I am curious then as to what a Thai person would do if visiting another Province and required immediate or urgent treatment ?

11 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

I am curious then as to what a Thai person would do if visiting another Province and required immediate or urgent treatment ?

There has always been an exception for emergencies in which travel back to the home province is not possible due to urgency of the condition.

 

Usually needed a call to the NHSO to enforce this, though, as the hospital cashier will just automatically charge.

 

 

If this reform truly rolls out nation-wide, it will be a great benefit to all the Issan workers in Pattaya and Bangkok..

On 1/3/2022 at 11:46 AM, Eric Loh said:

Nicely timed for probable early election. 

Nice catch.  But little more than lipstick on a pig.