Government Assistance For Health Care/hospitalization For Poor Thais?

[idiot farang]

I have a Thai friend who is a mother with a 15 month old child. The child has had some health problems that I witnessed firsthand, so I know that is fact not fiction. The child has been to the Dr. a few times recently and may be admitted into the hospital quiet soon. When i spoke to the mother she talked about the high cost and.... well, you know where this is going- she asked me if i can help.

This is not my girlfriend. Her job is one of the victims of the red shirt protest, and she is back home with her child now (ie: not in BKK). no money, poor parents as you might expect. so....................

is there a safety net for the poor in such situations in Thailand? I had a different Thai girl tell me this was BS, that the cost would be very low and is heavily subsidized by the govt. anyone have any firsthand knowledge of which is true? I'm happy to help, but not if i am being lie to. After spending 3 months in Thailand, I've had my fill of lies from Thai girls, so I've taken the age old 'trust but verify' approach in an attempt to not live up to my screen name!

thanks for any input...

[idiot farang]

well, seems i've answered my own lame question.

the 30 baht program is now free, so, as near as i can tell from chasing some google links, her total cost should be ZERO.

if anyone feels different (ie: i'm missing something), please chime in. right now i'm feeling lied to (again). good thing i now go under the assumption i'm being lied to from the start! i swear, in 3 months in Thailand i was lied to more than all the other years of my life in total. it's as if it's some sort of national pastime. i really like many things about Thailand and the Thai people, but lying is a pet peeve of mine, and i'm getting the feeling i may have chosen the wrong country to spend 1/2 my time in....

[harrry]

The free health scheme is good but because of financial limitations does not help much in cases where tratment will not have a drastic result. In other words if the problem is one which improves quality of life for the child they may not treat. Also if the long term outcome is not good and there is a comparitively high cost of treatment.

[Sheryl]

The government health scheme will provide most necessary treatment free of cost or at nominal cost. in certain specialized circumstances there may be costs that are not covered, for example the cost of specific imported medications.

Nothing you have said suggests that this is the case, tho. I would be wary. What is wrong with the child? What treatment needs to be paid for that is not covered under the govt system? Etc

[idiot farang]

The government health scheme will provide most necessary treatment free of cost or at nominal cost. in certain specialized circumstances there may be costs that are not covered, for example the cost of specific imported medications.

Nothing you have said suggests that this is the case, tho. I would be wary. What is wrong with the child? What treatment needs to be paid for that is not covered under the govt system? Etc

her child has stomach problems. they make her not want to eat and, as a result, her weight is below normal for 15 months. the mother told me that they wanted to admit the child to the hospital but that she didn't have the money. that's why my bs detector went off. inquires into a diagnosis were met with vague replies.

thanks for the replies....

[Robby nz]

I recently had a CT scan at a Thai public (army) hospital and the form I got for the scan said the cost to me as farang would be 6000b and below that it said the cost to Khon Thai would be 30b. Possibly an old form as it now could be free

As opposed to that I talked to a Thai man yesterday who is to get a cornea transplant (can only see from one eye) in August from the same hospital and he said it would cost 35,000b.

So it probably depends on what is to be done ie elective surgery, emergency etc.

I would suggest she gets the kid seen by one of the big public hospitals in BKK where the doctors have more experience than in the provincial hospitals.

I would add that it has been announced that there is or will be some Govt assistance for those who have lost jobs because of the riots, rally, have a look at the whats on each day post in news clippings, sure I saw it there somewhere.

Edited May 26, 2010 by Robby nz