The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is offering compensation for adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccinations, ranging from persistent illnesses to death.
According to secretary-general of the NHSO, Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, the NHSO’s board decided to adjust its payments for healthcare services associated with COVID-19 screening and treatment by including compensation for COVID-19 vaccination reactions.
He said the office had set aside 11 billion baht to pay the costs of COVID-19 screening and about seven billion baht had been reimbursed. About half of the payments went to funding COVID-19 screening services and the rest to funding treatment of infected patients.
On average, the cost of COVID-19 treatment per patient is 100,000 baht, while in some extreme cases, the cost of treatment per case was as high as 1 million baht, he added.
Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of Department of Health Service Support, dismissed reports claiming COVID-19 patients were being charged for costs of services that weren’t covered by the government.
He reiterated that everyone who is at risk of contracting the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is allowed to undergo a COVID-19 test at any state-run or private healthcare facilities without having to pay for the service. If a person is found to have COVID-19, the patient will be transferred to a healthcare facility to receive treatment for free.
Patients, however, will be responsible for paying costs of any extra services or convenience they or their relatives’ request.
Furthermore, he added that any private hospitals that refuse to admit COVID-19 patients for treatment or charge them for the service may face up to two years in prison or at most 40,000 baht in fines or both. (NNT)
