State to provide standard care for HIV, kidney patients

“It will ensure uninterrupted treatment for patients even if they have to change from one scheme to another,” Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday.
He was speaking after attending a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on the integration of the universal healthcare, social security and Civil Service Medical Benefits schemes.
The same standard would apply to treatment, medicine, service delivery and information technology.
“Even though the (IT) systems will be integrated, patient information will continue to be treated with strict confidentiality,” he said.
Yingluck recommended the delivery of best services to patients and also improvements to prevent outbreaks of diseases, he said.
Dr Paijit Warachit, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said the government had already ensured that all people were guaranteed the same standard of emergency medical services.
Since April 1, patients are free to seek attention from any hospital in case of emergency.
As of June 13, 2,353 patients have already sought emergency care at private hospitals under this policy.
“Of those seeking the services, 92.6 per cent have survived,” Paijit said.
Witthaya said the Thailand eHealthcare Telemedicine CARE, or the Internetbased medicalservice system for big hospitals and small hospitals at the tambon level, would also be developed further.
“The prime minister wishes to see doctors get advice from medical specialists around the clock,” he said.