PUBLIC HEALTH Minister Chonlanan Srikaew said at Government House today (Sep. 6) that the Pheu Thai-led government will be working on elevating the universal healthcare scheme to give people more access to services, Naewna newspaper said.
While saying the first policy his ministry will be implementing would be in accordance to what is to be stated in the policy statement to be delivered to Parliament on Monday (Sep. 11), Chonlanan, who is physician, pointed out that the original universal healthcare project had been adjusted since its introduction by the Thai Rak Thai government in 2002.
The scheme, which is also known as gold card or 30-baht scheme, had initially charged a 30 baht fee to those who could afford to pay but this was later dropped and no one had to pay any fee at all when receiving treatment.
He added that he does not want to talk about payment but will be elevating the healthcare scheme by allowing people to get medical treatment anywhere by just showing their ID card.
If the quality and efficiency of services are raised people would be able to get treatment anywhere, he added.
Asked if it will take time to implement these changes, Chonlanan replied that it does take time to further develop the system but he would have to study the details to determine how long this would take.
In Thailand healthcare is provided through three programmes: the civil service welfare system for civil servants and their families, Social Security for private employees and the universal healthcare scheme which is available to all other Thai nationals.
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Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Matichon
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