30-Baht Universal Healthcare Programme To Start Next Month: Thailand

[animatic]

The relevance of the 30 Baht is the creation of an audit trail to improve security of service and reduce time wasting attendances. No Thai that is unable to pay will be refused service.Therefore Any Thai with a valid ID card can establish continuity of treatment for themselves at up to four hospitals (eg. Migrant workers) per year.

.

So we/they pay 30 baht for an "audit trail"... that costs 80 baht to do.

Can't see why not just ordering the logging in of the patient

into the hospital computer systems,include the patient's treatment

and what supplies were given, is any more OR less secure than

losing 50 baht per patient to do it.

Edited August 14, 2012 by animatic

[Tanaka]

The relevance of the 30 Baht is the creation of an audit trail to improve security of service and reduce time wasting attendances. No Thai that is unable to pay will be refused service.Therefore Any Thai with a valid ID card can establish continuity of treatment for themselves at up to four hospitals (eg. Migrant workers) per year.

.

So we/they pay 30 baht for an "audit trail"... that costs 80 baht to do.

Can't see why not just ordering the logging in of the patient

into the hospital computer systems,include the patient's treatment

and what supplies were given, is any more OR less secure than

losing 50 baht per patient to do it.

Would you take upon you to explain to them how to do this and how to work with it?

[animatic]

The relevance of the 30 Baht is the creation of an audit trail to improve security of service and reduce time wasting attendances. No Thai that is unable to pay will be refused service.Therefore Any Thai with a valid ID card can establish continuity of treatment for themselves at up to four hospitals (eg. Migrant workers) per year.

.

So we/they pay 30 baht for an "audit trail"... that costs 80 baht to do.

Can't see why not just ordering the logging in of the patient

into the hospital computer systems,include the patient's treatment

and what supplies were given, is any more OR less secure than

losing 50 baht per patient to do it.

Would you take upon you to explain to them how to do this and how to work with it?

If you have been to Pantip Plaza, you know basic computer systems are well within the grasp of Thai IT staffs,

and most hospitals have computer inventory and materials IT systems running 24/7. They had patient logging systems before 30 baht health care, and after, better now.

But paying 30 baht for 80 baht value in accounting practices doesn't affect the patent logging system, it just adds a 50 baht layer of costs on top for political reasons.

Edited August 15, 2012 by animatic

[thaicbr]

The relevance of the 30 Baht is the creation of an audit trail to improve security of service and reduce time wasting attendances. No Thai that is unable to pay will be refused service.Therefore Any Thai with a valid ID card can establish continuity of treatment for themselves at up to four hospitals (eg. Migrant workers) per year.

.

No. The relevance is that it is the name of the scheme that Thaksin dreamed up (a good scheme even with its faults) so he wants it back. Simple. It has sod all to do with audit etc.

sent from my Wellcom A90+

[oldthaihand99]

Why pay 30 baht when all the govt hospital in Thailand are FREE?

If it's free or 30 baht, then why are Thai ladies telling me they need 5000 baht and 28,000 baht for hospital expenses?

[samran]

There are a couple of separate things going on here. Politics and economics.

First the politics: the 30 health scheme is just reinstating a catchy slogan onto an existing system. It was that way the first time around. PT seem to think that the 30 baht scheme rolls off the tongue and sounds good to the punters (cause it does) so it won't do any harm to their electoral chances.

Then there is the economics.

Economics is all about allocating resources to where they are most needed with the least cost.

For the most part markets do this job well, but there is the overwhelming consensus that medical care (along with defence, public infrastructure and some utilities) are best delivered by government, given that private provision of these things is generally sub optimal with huge cases of market failure.

Now, while these things are never free, some (like the british) choose to make health care free at the point of delivery.

Others, like the Australian's (who also have universal health care) choose to have some sort of token co-pay at the point of delivery. Not to prevent access, but to prevent unnecessary usage. So, there might be a $20 charge to see the doctor to prevent the lonely old grandma's going down to their local doctors for a free (effective) 15 minute chat while creating a queue for others outside who might actually need to see the doctor.

The Thai public hospital system, despite the politics, is doing something akin to the Australians. The 30 baht scheme obviously costs more to administer, and to prevent mis-use (not over use) it might be wiser to find a number which is higher than 30 baht (say 300 baht. But politics gets in the way there.

[cooked]

If you read the original news item, you will see that the requirement is an identity card, not a Tabien Ban. Farangs on visa extensions will eventually be getting a card also, which makes it obvious that you are not Thai.

I know that some Farangs are getting treatment through the use of their Tabien Ban and lucky them, but it isn't really legal, in some places you will get refused if you try. With the introduction of the new ID cards it is entirely possible that these loopholes will be shut. However most local hospitals will arrange an insurance for you, which is useful as there is much less bureaucracy involved. With this insurance they will refer you to a specialist or another hospital if necessary.

[jackr]

Most Thai's I know sign forms waving their right to it so they can pay for proper treatment. If you give away free crap, its still crap.

As you say, what crap. The missus had the nipper for 30 baht, albeit paid extra for a private doc and a room, but the hospital (down south, new) and staff in general were great. Also had an op in CM and though it wasn't the one wife was registered with, they classed it as an emergency and waived the 20k. The doctor was on par, if not more astute (certainly more pleasant), than any I've dealt with in the west. They're not all cattle markets.

If there were a chance to get on this, I'd certainly prefer it to being bent over in the 'business' hospitals and rub shoulders with whining, tired farang.

[oldthaihand99]

A working girl told me today it's free but spoke of waiting all day (8 hours) to get treated & the free meds being krhap.

Wikipedia's article speaks of Thailand having UC (universal health care) in "theory".

Canada, OTOH, has real UC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_in_Thailand

Edited August 17, 2012 by oldthaihand99

[crazydrummerpauly]

A working girl told me today it's free but spoke of waiting all day (8 hours) to get treated & the free meds being krhap.

Wikipedia's article speaks of Thailand having UC (universal health care) in "theory".

Canada, OTOH, has real UC.

http://en.wikipedia....lth_in_Thailand

Canada, following the UK but slowly, finally got nationwide health care in 1961 after many battles over nearly 2 decades in various provinces. Great country!

[moe666]

Its just to let people know Big T is on the job 30 baht -free-30 baht. he has to have credit for everything. heheheh will he take credit when they go bankrupt. The usual suspects haven't shown up to extroll the wonders of the new plan.

[StevenWayneSimpson]

Its just to let people know Big T is on the job 30 baht -free-30 baht. he has to have credit for everything. heheheh will he take credit when they go bankrupt. The usual suspects haven't shown up to extroll the wonders of the new plan.

Ill second that. If its free, you walk out the hospital and dont think anything about it. If you have handed over 30bht it makes you think what I deal i have just got and run back to your villages and tell your mates, who inturn tells you it is Thaksin looking after the poor. I remember a few years back it was always a big sales pitch by the taxi men in their argument about supporting the great man and why he was looking after the less fortunate than the white collar people of bkk.

[hellodolly]

A working girl told me today it's free but spoke of waiting all day (8 hours) to get treated & the free meds being krhap.

Wikipedia's article speaks of Thailand having UC (universal health care) in "theory".

Canada, OTOH, has real UC.

http://en.wikipedia....lth_in_Thailand

Canada, following the UK but slowly, finally got nationwide health care in 1961 after many battles over nearly 2 decades in various provinces. Great country!

Well coming from British Columbia I am familiar with the system. A friend of mine waited over a year for a triple bypass operation. I waited a year for a MRI. 6 months for specialists and doctors are pretty well booked solid. They give you a interview before agreeing to take you on as a patient.

Of course if it is a emergency they will take you into the hospital right away, But not a emergency get in line. And try not to die first. But yes it is all free. If you pay your insurance every month.

[oldthaihand99]

A working girl told me today it's free but spoke of waiting all day (8 hours) to get treated & the free meds being krhap.

Wikipedia's article speaks of Thailand having UC (universal health care) in "theory".

Canada, OTOH, has real UC.

http://en.wikipedia....lth_in_Thailand

Canada, following the UK but slowly, finally got nationwide health care in 1961 after many battles over nearly 2 decades in various provinces. Great country!

Well coming from British Columbia I am familiar with the system. A friend of mine waited over a year for a triple bypass operation. I waited a year for a MRI. 6 months for specialists and doctors are pretty well booked solid. They give you a interview before agreeing to take you on as a patient.

Of course if it is a emergency they will take you into the hospital right away, But not a emergency get in line. And try not to die first. But yes it is all free. If you pay your insurance every month.

I think that is a fair assessment. Payment for "insurance" is free for the most poor. As a rich person I pay a measly/nominal $50/month CAD in BC.

Everyone has access to the same quality of medicines & you don't have to wait all day to see a doctor.

Edited August 24, 2012 by oldthaihand99