18 of Thailand's state hospitals officially declared 'broke'

[Jonathan Fairfield]

18 state hospitals are broke

 

 

Eighteen state hospitals are broke having accumulated debts amounting from 92 million baht up to almost 400 million baht.

 

The state of financial crisis of state hospitals was recently disclosed in the Facebook page of the Federation of Doctors of central and general hospitals.

 

The following hospitals which are considered as broke are: King Rama III hospital, 354 million baht in debt; Saraburi hospital, 321 million baht; Uttradit hospital, 277 million baht; Sakhon Nakhon hospital, 225 million baht; Surat Thani hospital, 219 million baht; Khon Kaen hospital, 214 million baht; Chao Phraya Yommaraj hospital, 199 million baht; Hua Hin hospital, 194 million baht; Wachira Phuket hospital, 185 million baht; Phayao hospital, 164 million baht; Phichit hospital, 156 million baht; Songkhla hospital, 138 million baht; Hat Yai hospital, 133 million baht; Nakhon Ping hospital, 131 million baht; King Rama II hospital, 116 million baht; Phra Phuttabaat hospital, 115 million baht; Prachuab Khiri Khan hospital, 102 million baht and Sukhothai hospital, 92 million baht.

 

Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakonsattayatorn admitted that state hospitals had been experiencing financial crisis for quite a long time and the situation is now critical.

 

However, he assured that the government would did not sit idly by and was trying to solve the problem.

 

He blamed the financial crisis facing the 18 state hospitals on poor management and insufficient funding from the universal health coverage programme.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/18-state-hospitals-broke/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-04-04

[fruitman]

Good that they bought the new tanks today for 2 billion.....

[NCC1701A]

" ...Hua Hin hospital, 194 million baht..."

 

I live in Hua Hin and use Hua Hin hospital for many basic medical issues. They have a great "Farang Desk" with VIP service. This is a very good hospital for not much money.

 

I hope they can continue the great service.

 

 

 

[chickenslegs]

22 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

He blamed the financial crisis facing the 18 state hospitals on poor management and insufficient funding from the universal health coverage programme.

 

Looks like YL will have to pay for the losses from her failed rice pledging scheme.

 

I wonder who they will pursue for the losses from the 30 Baht health plan.

[thequietman]

Bad management, corruption and a steady line of 'sick' people who routinely are in the hospital everyday for colds, flu and other ailments that they don't need to be there for. The queues in the local hospital in my town are never ending. Hundreds of people every morning Mon thru Friday. If it only costs 30 baht then why not go see the Doc for the smallest of things. 

[swissie]

29 minutes ago, thequietman said:

Bad management, corruption and a steady line of 'sick' people who routinely are in the hospital everyday for colds, flu and other ailments that they don't need to be there for. The queues in the local hospital in my town are never ending. Hundreds of people every morning Mon thru Friday. If it only costs 30 baht then why not go see the Doc for the smallest of things. 

In other words "the universal health coverage program" is as good as dead. The honerable Mr. Thaksin will be blamed for it.

Why was it ever called "universal health coverage program", since Farangs were never included ?

Oh, I see, Farangs are not part of the (Thai) universe.

Cheers.

[Bluespunk]

How much is a submarine again?

[baboon]

2 hours ago, thequietman said:

Bad management, corruption and a steady line of 'sick' people who routinely are in the hospital everyday for colds, flu and other ailments that they don't need to be there for. The queues in the local hospital in my town are never ending. Hundreds of people every morning Mon thru Friday. If it only costs 30 baht then why not go see the Doc for the smallest of things. 

Quite. Make healthcare prohibitively expensive and let the undeserving die. It's a win win!

However let's hope if some of the deserving collapse on the street, the fit will kick them into the gutter so as not to impede their way to KFC or wherever. They can smugly sort out their own ambulance from there.

[sweatalot]

9 hours ago, thequietman said:

Bad management, corruption and a steady line of 'sick' people who routinely are in the hospital everyday for colds, flu and other ailments that they don't need to be there for. The queues in the local hospital in my town are never ending. Hundreds of people every morning Mon thru Friday. If it only costs 30 baht then why not go see the Doc for the smallest of things. 

Considering the long queues and the long waiting time  I doubt that they "see the Doc for the smallest of things"

[ChrisY1]

The entire country is in financial difficulty....mostly through bad management and corruption....and the military "must have" tanks and submarines.....don't even mention transport infrastructure....a few tollways built by elite friends, but trains and buses will not change anytime soon in the future

[JAG]

Hospitals in deficit to 2,833,000,000 Baht.

 

10 New tanks will cost 2,000,000,000 Baht

 

The submarines, well the initial cost for the first one is quoted as 13,047,102,000.00 Baht (QUWA Defense Analysis Group).

Edited April 5, 2017 by JAG
keep getting the number of zeros wrong.

[KhaoNiaw]

9 hours ago, swissie said:

In other words "the universal health coverage program" is as good as dead. The honerable Mr. Thaksin will be blamed for it.

Why was it ever called "universal health coverage program", since Farangs were never included ?

Oh, I see, Farangs are not part of the (Thai) universe.

Cheers.

Farangs who are working are covered by social insurance. Also entitled to other benefits such as unemployment pay and a small pension if you pay in long enough. Whether the system can survive or not ...

Edited April 5, 2017 by KhaoNiaw

[hansnl]

9 hours ago, thequietman said:

Bad management, corruption and a steady line of 'sick' people who routinely are in the hospital everyday for colds, flu and other ailments that they don't need to be there for. The queues in the local hospital in my town are never ending. Hundreds of people every morning Mon thru Friday. If it only costs 30 baht then why not go see the Doc for the smallest of things. 

Right!

Make it expensive so that 30% of the population can not get any healthcare.

Like in the US?

KK hospital already sends those from outside Muang to local state clinics and hospitals in their own region to minimise the huge crowds.

My idea is that only a few percent of all the patients should not see the doctor because their complaints are not really "ripe" to bother a doctor for.

Making healthcare expensive enough to chase people away is not the answer.

[Bob12345]

38 minutes ago, sweatalot said:

Considering the long queues and the long waiting time  I doubt that they "see the Doc for the smallest of things"

Think again, my wife worked for a year as a doctor in a government hospital (small town) and on average one doctor treats 50-70 patients AN HOUR in the morning hours.

If you have a serious ailment it will take a lot longer to diagnose or set up a treatment plan.

 

People had a headache and they came see a doctor. People sneezed 3 times and went to ER at night. If they can't sleep they went to the hospital. If they feel a common cold coming up they are sitting in line in the morning to see a doctor.

 

And they didn't mind waiting the whole morning. They just ask the doctor to sign a note they were sick so the employer doesn't complain and just pays out.

[hansnl]

2 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

Farangs who are working are covered by social insurance.

Farangs living here long-time and spending on average 50,000 baht a month in the economy after bringing it in from their own country, are not insured in the social insurance.

Cannot get insurance, have many exemptions if insured and are refused when getting older.

 

[the guest]

Quote "financial crisis" ? 

 

What financial crisis, with over 32 million tourists one could question where all the money is going?

[KhaoNiaw]

1 minute ago, hansnl said:

Farangs living here long-time and spending on average 50,000 baht a month in the economy after bringing it in from their own country, are not insured in the social insurance.

Cannot get insurance, have many exemptions if insured and are refused when getting older.

 

I was just pointing out that Swissie's claim that 'farangs are not part of the (Thai) universe' doesn't actually stand up to close scrutiny.

[mogo51]

11 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

" ...Hua Hin hospital, 194 million baht..."

 

I live in Hua Hin and use Hua Hin hospital for many basic medical issues. They have a great "Farang Desk" with VIP service. This is a very good hospital for not much money.

 

I hope they can continue the great service.

 

 

 

That is part of problem. If they brought in the levy for foreigners for health care, that would be a good start. Plus stop handing out pills like  they are lollies.

[the guest]

Just now, mogo51 said:

That is part of problem. If they brought in the levy for foreigners for health care, that would be a good start. Plus stop handing out pills like  they are lollies.

 

Oh yeah, blame it on the foreigners why not !

[rkidlad]

I've got 2 friends doing affiliate marketing online. They make wicked good money and it's all sourced from abroad. They are working on elite visas but would of course like to be on work permits. Being on work permits means they could pay tax and contribute more in Thai society. They have properties, missus' and kids. One friend inquired and it seemed that immigration didn't care about their online work and had no intention of issuing work permits. That's their prerogative, but not a good one in the sense of doing business. These are the kind of immigrants that most other countries are screaming out for. 

 

But instead, they're denied a work permit because that will give them at least some rights in this country. They spend cash in Thailand, but they also go off on jollies to other countries simply because they can. 

[Ricardo]

I would suggest that this underfunding-problem may go back a long way ?

 

When the 30-Baht scheme was introduced, there was little interest in how the extra demand would be funded.

 

On the other hand, many social-medicine schemes, around the world, have their financial problems.

 

Perhaps increases in sin-taxes should go directly to increase funding to hospitals ?

 

Oh, and defer the submarines & tanks, until the country can afford them.

[gk10002000]

Anybody remember how many hospitals in the Los Angeles California closed in the last few decades? Most were completely swamped by uninsured patients, or thousands upon thousands that abused the emergency rooms.  It seems to me that Thailand has an opportunity to leverage the expat community that probably can pay more per person than the average poor village Thai person.  I don't mean gouge the foreigner, but just to suggest there may be ways to address these financial issues

[darksidedog]

59 minutes ago, JAG said:

Hospitals in deficit to 2,833,000,000 Baht.

 

10 New tanks will cost 2,000,000,000 Baht

 

The submarines, well the initial cost for the first one is quoted as 13,047,102,000.00 Baht (QUWA Defense Analysis Group).

This country needs decent healthcare, way, way more than it needs tanks or subs.

One day I hope the PM will realise there is a lot more pride as a nation to be gained from a good health service, above the totally unneeded military hardware.

[bkk6060]

One thing I have noticed about all the hospitals here is they seem to have too many employees.  Lots of people sitting around doing nothing on their phones.  Saw a Dermatologist and there were 5 girls working the front area.  Could get by ok with 2. Great they create jobs, but all seems like a waste.

[Kabula]

The problem should have been resolved long ago!

 

Sounds like to little, to late!

 

Health insurance and travel insurance is not very effective with serious, urgent medical problems if hospitals are closed or the hospital lines are around the block.

 

With so many uninsured with limited credit and less tourists, one has to wonder how the private hospitals are doing?

[Artisi]

Easy solution, patients attending for coughs, colds, in-grown toenails and like non important needs, Bht 1000 per visit, with a sliding scale reducing in the charge as the severity of the problem increases. Universal healthcare for the majority of people in Thailand needs to be maintained but only for legitimate necessary requirements. 

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

Hospitals in deficit to 2,833,000,000 Baht.

 

10 New tanks will cost 2,000,000,000 Baht

 

The submarines, well the initial cost for the first one is quoted as 13,047,102,000.00 Baht (QUWA Defense Analysis Group).

Yeah, but the boys need their toys and the middleman needs their graft - - oops, commission. 

[bkk6060]

4 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Easy solution, patients attending for coughs, colds, in-grown toenails and like non important needs, Bht 1000 per visit, with a sliding scale reducing in the charge as the severity of the problem increases. Universal healthcare for the majority of people in Thailand needs to be maintained but only for legitimate necessary requirements. 

Yes, that is huge.  You have a cough or hang nail and you are told to go to the hospital?

What a waste I don't understand the Thai mentality with this.  I guess they need to have more accessible clinics.

[MorristheRunt]

Tanks, Submarines, silk suits and hair dye all in front of your peoples health, only in Thailand.

 

The Nation of Thailand is true honoured and so fortunate to have General Pryat in charge.

 

Sir we salute you.

[meatboy]

wait till they add the cost of SONGKRAN over 7days.

this they cant blame on the foreigners.