200 health officials to discuss medical cost sharing
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Some 200 members of the Public Health Community will meet on Wednesday to discuss an appropriate ratio under which people would share the cost of their medical bills under the universal health care programme, Doctor Prachumphon Buracharone said on Tuesday
Prachumphon, who is also president of the Federation of General Hospitals, said members of the community have been discussing the issue for a while and realise that it is necessary for the people to share medical costs with the state if tambon hospitals and public community clinics are to survive.
Prachumphon said the cost ratio would not be as high as 30 to 50 per cent of the medical bill as rumoured on the social networks. Many have cried foul at the idea that patients would have to pay 30 to 50 per cent of the medical costs per visit rather than nothing as is current practice.
Prachumphon said the cost-sharing ratio might be Bt30 to Bt50 per visit and the underprivileged and the elderly might be exempt.
The Nation
