Emergency patients ‘will be treated for free at the nearest hospital’

NIEM secretary-general Anuchar Sethasathien said the institute would outline criteria to protect the rights of emergency and trauma patients and set up an Emco Service Centre to offer 24-hour consultant services.

He said state agencies had met and mapped out guidelines for hospitals to protect the rights of emergency and trauma patients so that they would receive medical treatment unconditionally without charge.

He said emergency and trauma patients must be able to access medical treatment from the closest hospital regardless of whether it is a private hospital. 

Anuchar added that the Emco Service Centre could resolve issues if physicians diagnosed patients differently or recommended different treatments. 

Hospitals that accept emergency and trauma patients would receive compensation for the medical treatment for the first 72 hours at rates stipulated by the NIEM. The three national healthcare schemes – the National Health Security Fund, the Social Security Fund and the Medical Benefits Fund – will all be required to pay the compensation.

“The patients will receive immediate treatment and if disagreements in treatments arise, a meeting would be called to swiftly give treatment. The patients will not be left unattended in the emergency room,’’ he said.

The pilot project will be evaluated after six months for possible revision. 

The proposal will be forwarded to the three healthcare funds for consideration before the NIEM seeks Cabinet approval.

He said the proposal was expected to be implemented by December.

He said emergency and trauma patients were defined as those who are unconscious, have stopped breathing, experience irregular breathing, angina or weak limbs, or are having difficulty speaking. A hotline has been set up for emergency patients at 1669.