Medical Fees Set To Rise By 10 - 15%: Thailand

[webfact]

Medical fees set to rise by 10 - 15%

Puangchompoo Prasert

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- New rates for medical services - up by an average of 12.5 per cent - will take effect at state hospitals within the next two weeks, Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong has said. Some services may be cheaper, but, overall, prices are expected to rise by between 10 and 15 per cent.

The cost of some operations is likely to rise significantly. The fee for a lung or heart transplant will rise from Bt45,000 to Bt64,000, while a liver-transplant will jump from Bt40,000 to Bt54,000.

newsjs

With private hospitals also expected to raise service fees too, Pradit yesterday unveiled a plan to appoint "mediators" to look into consumers' complaints if they believe their medical bill is too high.

"A committee of mediators will determine whether treatments and prices are reasonable," the minister said. C-quality medical-service providers, for example, should not charge the same rate as the top-grade hospitals, he said.

Pradit said the Public Health Ministry planned to adjust medical service fees in response to changing costs. However, he expected little impact on people as most are covered by the government's universal healthcare scheme.

Currently, the scheme covered 48 million people, he said. About 31 million used it at least four times a year, while about a million used the service 12+ times a year.

Some 10 million other Thais can exercise their right to free medical treatment under the social-security scheme.

Pradit said only foreigners and people who did not exercise their rights to free treatment would be affected by the fee hike at state hospitals. Asked about a possible hike in premiums for health insurance, Pradit said he did not think people needed such insurance. "We have offered even free heart-transplant surgery. No insurance firms can offer that even if you pay Bt20,000 premium a year," he said.

Dr Sopon Mekthon, deputy permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said the current rate had been in place for nine years. "So, it's time to make adjustment," he said.

He said the ministry would put the proposed changes to Pradit for him to consider and approve this week. After Pradit grants approval, in his capacity as the minister, the new rate will take effect at all state hospitals.

"The country has about 800 state hospitals," Sopon said.

He said the rates would list the maximum price state hospitals could charge. "But in case the cost is lower at any hospital, its director may lower the fee," he explained.

-- The Nation 2013-01-29

[dcutman]

the minister said. C-quality medical-service providers, for example, should not charge the same rate as the top-grade hospitals, he said.

Does this mean, if you dont have enough money to pay for the top grade services your chances for survival decrease substantially? Or are we just talking about the facilities quality?

[JoePai]

the minister said. C-quality medical-service providers, for example, should not charge the same rate as the top-grade hospitals, he said.

Does this mean, if you dont have enough money to pay for the top grade services your chances for survival decrease substantially? Or are we just talking about the facilities quality?

Correct on both counts - what do you expect

[me313]

Ironic that the Populist PM Yingluck rises health care prices when her election campaign was to help the poor.

[Thai at Heart]

Where are these c grade hospitals?

[Docno]

Ironic that the Populist PM Yingluck rises health care prices when her election campaign was to help the poor.

Read again:

"Pradit said the Public Health Ministry planned to adjust medical service fees in response to changing costs. However, he expected little impact on people as most are covered by the government's universal healthcare scheme.

Currently, the scheme covered 48 million people, he said. About 31 million used it at least four times a year, while about a million used the service 12+ times a year.

Some 10 million other Thais can exercise their right to free medical treatment under the social-security scheme."

[muratremix]

So squeeze farangs more to pay for budget of PTP who wasted gigantic amount of money in populist politics and rice scheme.

[stevehaigh]

'The fee for a lung or heart transplant will rise from Bt45,000 to Bt64,000, while a liver-transplant will jump from Bt40,000 to Bt54,000'!

wow, operations are really that cheap? my friend is trying to get a tooth implant and can't find a deal cheaper than 40,000 baht.

[hansnl]

'The fee for a lung or heart transplant will rise from Bt45,000 to Bt64,000, while a liver-transplant will jump from Bt40,000 to Bt54,000'!

wow, operations are really that cheap? my friend is trying to get a tooth implant and can't find a deal cheaper than 40,000 baht.

Probably not went to inform in a state hospital where there is also a dentist?

[Payboy]

Where are these c grade hospitals?

Look for them listed under "a" grade hospitals.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Even with the higher cost, the price is still much lower than the co pay most everywhere else

For years I have received wonderful care at government hospitals equal or better than back home

[Minnehaha]

there is nothing free about social security in Thailand

employees have small amount deducted from paycheck each pay period and of course employers pay a certain amount up to a cap. Each year the company also pays a premium.

then each year the SS office looks at the amounts claimed by employees of that company - the amount paid out to hospital or doctors... and they compare it to the amount paid into the system. If the claims exceed the amount paid in... the SS office uses an alogarithm to raise and lf course lower the company's annual premium to keep it in equilibrium.

Lets say... your company has a fleet of motorcycles delivering food. And one guy suffers a tragedy and is in hospital. Or worse... lets say he dies. Even worse... lets say he suffers in hospital for a few years before dying. These costs can and do hit a company hard. Companies who have employees engaged in high risk behavior like this example should rightfully pay a higher amount into the system. But in my opinion, companies have an unfair financial burden with this annual premium, in addition to the amount paid each pay period.

Furthermore, companies cannot opt out. For example, if they want to use a private company to ensure their staff and enjoy better coverage and reduce the risk of a financial bomb, they are free to do it. But staff are free to make claims on either or both and so the risk is not reduced for the employer.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Minnehaha

[NoshowJones]

Ironic that the Populist PM Yingluck rises health care prices when her election campaign was to help the poor.

She must have been in touch with the lying, cheating, hypocritical UK Labour Party

[tragickingdom]

As if it would be common in Thai public hospitals to perform lung, liver, kidney or heart transplants. For those people believing in equal chances, organs will be sold to the highest bidders or are simply distributed to members of society considered important by the old money guys. Poor people do not stand a chance of receiving a kidney, heart or lung.

[XINLOI]

Ironic that the Populist PM Yingluck rises health care prices when her election campaign was to help the poor.

Yep, we all know by now, that all politicians tell the truth....

[Tanaka]

Quote// Pradit said only foreigners and people who did not exercise their rights to free treatment would be affected by the fee hike at state hospitals. Asked about a possible hike in premiums for health insurance, Pradit said he did not think people needed such insurance. "We have offered even free heart-transplant surgery. No insurance firms can offer that even if you pay Bt20,000 premium a year," he said.//unquote.

Clearly foreigners are not considered people. And as minister in Thailand he is naturally far away from what is reality for most people (foreigners) thinking that 20.000B a year is a high premium for a health insurance. Twit.

[maturebrit]

'The fee for a lung or heart transplant will rise from Bt45,000 to Bt64,000, while a liver-transplant will jump from Bt40,000 to Bt54,000'!

wow, operations are really that cheap? my friend is trying to get a tooth implant and can't find a deal cheaper than 40,000 baht.

yeah.... I was quoted 36k for a dental bridge...

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Robbie Dye]

Prompts me to ask if anyone in Pattaya knows what has happened to the new Pattaya Hospital, supposed to open last Oct I recall, affordable like Sirikit for foreigners who dont have wads of dosh. Did it become a hotel for the Russians?

[Hans Sierhuis]

Healthcare only for the rich Thai? Why am I not suprised. Over 30.000 homeless, probably they will get them a roof over their head with these profits. No I don't think so. I am just awaiting the day the baht will collapse. Just like Spain, Greece all great holiday countries who got greedy and basicly ruined themselves. This surely will happen soon in Thailand.

[rockyysdt]

Even with the higher cost, the price is still much lower than the co pay most everywhere else

For years I have received wonderful care at government hospitals equal or better than back home

A friend of mine, after a serious injury, was told by the surgeon at a public hospital that both legs had to be amputated.

She had herself transferred to an A Grade private establishment where they saved one of the legs.

It cost her a ransom but after first hand experience she now refuses use the public system.

Another friends mother, using the public system for a liver ailment, was prescribed medication for schizophrenia, digestives, and an assortment of other scripts over a long period.

She was basically fobbed off with placebo bandaid treatment robbing of valuable time which should have been directed to treating her problem.

After slowly deteriorating she died a very painful death.

If you are poor and present to a public hospital with a serious illness or injury, you should worry.

Edited January 29, 2013 by rockyysdt

[Arkady]

the minister said. C-quality medical-service providers, for example, should not charge the same rate as the top-grade hospitals, he said.

Does this mean, if you dont have enough money to pay for the top grade services your chances for survival decrease substantially? Or are we just talking about the facilities quality?

You should perhaps do some research and find out which medical facilities are patronised by Mr Pradit and his family. Certainly not C-class medical service providers. Politicians have their own form of super gold card paid for taxpayers. They steal from the taxpayers and buy top class medical services from the best the private hospitals with the proceeds.

Yes, definitely your chances of survival are less, if you use the government services.

[FarangTalk]

What about more 'witch doctors' or free protective amulets? Surely this is a cheaper option to prevent people getting sick.

Alternatively, people with illnesses can just visit the local pharmacy and receive an on-the-spot medical diagnosis from an unqualified salesperson, buy prohibited medicines over the counter and cure themselves.

[TheGhostWithin]

the minister said. C-quality medical-service providers, for example, should not charge the same rate as the top-grade hospitals, he said.

Does this mean, if you dont have enough money to pay for the top grade services your chances for survival decrease substantially? Or are we just talking about the facilities quality?

That would sound like a fair and reasonable expectation. you should get what you pay for, unsubsidised. Inventing another welfare state is not good for the world, nor would it help Thailand continue to grow.

Every country with welfare states in the world is currently or has been in a recession until very recently, with the exception of Australia. It is one of the major causes of the decline of western world economics: its okay to be lazy, and do nothing. someone else will pick up the tab. And if they don't, then kick and scream loud enoug for long enoug, and eventually, someone else will still pick up the tab.

[hellodolly]

Where are these c grade hospitals?

Look for them listed under "a" grade hospitals.

Well some of them are c grade and some of them only aspire to that level. The money for it has been earmarked temporarily "rice plan."

[TheGhostWithin]

So squeeze farangs more to pay for budget of PTP who wasted gigantic amount of money in populist politics and rice scheme.

it is about more than this...

squeeze everyone accross the nation, as well as a huge medical tourism sector to pay for the policy to grow the rice mafia and fill the pockets of the few. this is a simple transfer of money from the majority to the minority.

Love to see those medical tourism companies continue to send customers to Thailand when countries such as Malaysia are offering the same products of the same quality often cheaper prior to these increases.

[TheGhostWithin]

What about more 'witch doctors' or free protective amulets? Surely this is a cheaper option to prevent people getting sick.

Alternatively, people with illnesses can just visit the local pharmacy and receive an on-the-spot medical diagnosis from an unqualified salesperson, buy prohibited medicines over the counter and cure themselves.

I would feel safer with my amulet and google than what I have read from some of the posts above. Some of the so called A grade hospitals in Bangkok and Pattaya have screwed over and over medicated a few of my friends too. Price does not indicate quality here, only the level of greed of the proprietor.

[lujanit]

Thais are hypercondriacs and the doctors here prescribe all sorts of drugs which are not necessary. My wife went to a hospital last saturday and came back with all sorts of medicine not necessary. She was told by the doctor he would prescribe her a cream to alleviate the problem but she ended up with 5 medications including danzen and paracetamol. Our house is full of unused, overprescribed medication.

[webfact]

Medicare patients unaffected by increased medical charges

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 29 – Higher medical fees to be collected by state-run hospitals under Thailand’s Public Health Ministry will not affect those entitled to government-sponsored medicare, the health minister said today.

Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong said increased medical fees will be levied on general patients while the government will continue to pay for medical expenses of Thai people served under the national health programme and civil servants.

The Public Health Ministry has allocated a budget for the purpose, he said, adding that the ministry is considering higher fees on international patients but it must be in accord with the cost schedules in the Association of Southeast Asian Countries.

Dr Pradit said the government hospitals’ latest adjustment of medical fees should not be a precedent for private hospitals which increased their medical treatment rates every year.(MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-29

[davejones]

the minister said. C-quality medical-service providers, for example, should not charge the same rate as the top-grade hospitals, he said.

Does this mean, if you dont have enough money to pay for the top grade services your chances for survival decrease substantially? Or are we just talking about the facilities quality?

That's true all over the world. It's pretty obvious that if you don't have much money, that the quality of treatment is likely to be lower. Poor people die younger than richer people. So yes, money does make a difference.

[khunken]

the minister said. C-quality medical-service providers, for example, should not charge the same rate as the top-grade hospitals, he said.

Does this mean, if you dont have enough money to pay for the top grade services your chances for survival decrease substantially? Or are we just talking about the facilities quality?

That's true all over the world. It's pretty obvious that if you don't have much money, that the quality of treatment is likely to be lower. Poor people die younger than richer people. So yes, money does make a difference.

No it's not true in countries (EU for example) that have a proper health care system. Money makes a difference with private health care.

Also I question your assertion that poor people die younger than rich people. It may be true in Africa but I don't think it is in Europe, Japan & other more developed countries.