NHSO coming out with smart ID cards to cure gold-card fraud
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is planning to pilot the use of smart ID cards in conjunction with gold cards under its national healthcare scheme to prevent fraud by those who are not covered under the scheme but use another person’s gold card, secretary-general Sakchai Kanjanawatana said on Wednesday.
“We plan to enact the new regulation in Bangkok first, which will require all gold-card holders to provide a smart ID card to verify their identity before receiving treatment at participating clinics and hospitals,” he said.
“The use of the smart ID card will also enable the integration of patient’s data and treatment history between medical institutes, so the patient can go to any participating clinic or hospital at their convenience to receive continued treatment,” Sakchai said.
He said the new regulation would not lead to any difficulty or delay in medical treatment for gold card holders.
“Patients only need to present their smart ID card along with the gold card when they arrive at the clinic/hospital, and the staff will handle the verification process while the patient can meet a doctor, get diagnosed and receive medication. The staff will then return both cards to the patient and he/she can go home,” Sakchai explained.
“As for children, they can be verified using their parents’ smart ID card when receiving treatment,” he added.