NRC urged to reject report on Thai health reform

NHSO
NRC urged to reject report on health reform
Prapasri Osathanon
Natthapat Phromkaew
The Nation

Group warns the proposals on fIscal reform wIll centralIse power and make the mInIstry too strong

BANGKOK: -- A CIVIL network is demanding that the National Reform Council (NRC) reject a report on fiscal reform for public health that will be submitted today.

Surapong Promtao, who represents the Public Health Reform Watch Network, made the demand yesterday in a petition to the NRC chairman.

"The report is flawed," he claimed. "It seems the report is designed to encourage the centralisation of power and to put power in the hands of the Public Health Ministry."

Prasert Sarnvivad, who sits on the NRC committee on public healthcare, accepted the petition on behalf of the NRC chairman.

However, he firmly dismissed the network's claim, saying the report was prepared on the basis of public interest.

"Please look at the overall picture. Benefits for people may not be significant in the beginning. But the benefits will increase in the long run," Prasert said.

The committee's spokesman, Paisal Chantarapitak, said the panel's proposal was not finalised. He said the NRC would look |into it today so members could express their opinions. "We will |listen to the opinions and improve our study on how best to implement national healthcare reform," he said.

Tension has been high in |the health sector in recent months. The health ministry has clashed with the National Health Security Office (NHSO) over manage-|ment of the universal healthcare scheme, which covers 48 million people.

The clash became so serious that a probe was launched against the permanent secretary for health, Dr Narong Sahametapat, over his alleged failure to respond to the health minister's policies.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yutthawong said yesterday there were ongoing probes into many related issues. "For example, we have also been looking into alleged irregularities in the NHSO's fund management," he said.

Yongyuth said he did not take sides in the conflict.

Managed by the NHSO, the universal healthcare scheme has received a budget of well over Bt100 billion a year. State hos-pitals supervised by the ministry are key units implementing the scheme.

"This conflict is a big issue because this scheme is big scale and it involves a really big budget," Yongyuth said.

On Monday, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said his government would ensure fairness to both sides.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/NRC-urged-to-reject-report-on-health-reform-30256695.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-25