The junta's Public Health Minister has announced an intention to turn the 30 Baht Health Care System into FREE universal medical care for all. No details yet of who or how one will qualify.
Dr Mongkol Na Songkhla said: "The 'Bt30-cures-all-diseases' [slogan] was used by the Thai Rak Thai Party as a marketing gimmick. Well, just because I don't want to use this logo of the past government does not mean I don't agree with them. The point is, I don't want the patient to be charged Bt30 [per hospital visit] any more."
The doctor said he was going to discuss the matter with the National Health Security Office, which oversees the Bt30 healthcare scheme. He seems to think that, since the medical industry spends more than 30 Baht processing each treatment and payment, why bother ? I hope he isn't suggesting that records not be kept of every treatment.
I don't think the good doctor realizes that totally free care may be an invitation for patients to swamp the system with all sorts of trivial complaints that don't require medical care. My impression after living here many years is that many Thais are closet hypocondriacs who run to the clinic for bags of pills and shots in the buttocks at the slightest hint of a cold.
The morning-after hangover may well become Thailand's most prominently treated disease of the new system. There is also the danger, of course, that the free system will become nothing more than the low rung of a mixed system of delivering low standard health care to the impoverished.
I wonder if the Thaksins will fly here from London to get free medical care ?
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30 Baht Health System to be FREE
Started by Expattaya, Oct 13 2006 09:56 AM
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Posted 13 October 2006 - 10:54 AM
This is the same minister who has also announced a forthcoming ban on advertising or display of alcoholic beverages which, if the newspapers are correct, would even bar stores, super markets and restaurants from displaying what they have to offer for sale.
Did you also notice that former Interior Minister, Purachai Piumsombun, the man who made bar raids famous as Interior Minister, and who has been living in New Zealand, was made a member of the new Assembly ?
If booze has been targeted, and Purachai is back in town, can bar raids be far behind ?
Did you also notice that former Interior Minister, Purachai Piumsombun, the man who made bar raids famous as Interior Minister, and who has been living in New Zealand, was made a member of the new Assembly ?
If booze has been targeted, and Purachai is back in town, can bar raids be far behind ?
