Rural doctors sceptical about medical hub plan
The Rural Doctor Foundation expressed scepticism yesterday over a Bt100-billion scheme proposed by the Public Health Ministry, questioning its worthiness and why nearly half is earmarked for a hub in Bangkok that would mainly serve foreigners - not Thais.
Community hospitals were barely aware of the scheme despite an earlier service plan projection, Foundation head Dr Kriengsak Vacharanukulkieti said. The decision to proceed with the scheme was made mainly by top ministry officials and heads of provincial health offices.
Dr Kriengsak said the Bt100-billion project may be a move to “silence” doctors, who were against the government-backed amnesty bill. He said it was not certain if Bt46 billion set aside for a medical hub was for government or private hospitals. He said rectors of all medical schools were called to an urgent meeting and the ministry announced the scheme a few days later.
The ministry announced the scheme yesterday, saying Bt33 billion would be used to modernise infrastructure at all hospitals, Bt21 billion spent on service planning, and Bt46 billion on the medical hub. The scheme may need another Bt100 billion during its 10-year timeframe, which starts next year.
