BANGKOK, 12 November 2014 – The National Health Security Office is preparing to ask the Cabinet to set up a new national committee to manage three health service-related funds.
NHSO Secretary General Dr. Winai Sawasdivorn said that the office has recently assessed the management of three health service-related funds and found several problems that have hindered their effectiveness.
All these funds included the NHSO’s universal healthcare scheme, the Social Security and the civil service welfare system, which have been designed to allow their members to seek emergency medical attention at the nearest hospitals without having to pay in advance, since April 1, 2012.
However, with reports of some private hospitals demanding payment from patients instead of working with related funds, the NHSO now plans to propose to the Cabinet to consider setting up a joint national committee to manage these benefits in order to enable the public to fully utilise these funds.
Dr. Winai added that the NHSO will suggest the Cabinet to select a minister or a deputy prime minister to chair the new committee in order to ensure their effectiveness.
