Health Security Act changes leave activists vexed
Some leading health activists on Wednesday walked out of a Bangkok public-consultation meeting on proposed amendments to the National Health Security Act after the chairman of the committee in charge of the changes shunned their concerns.
Affiliated with the People Health Systems Movement (PHSM), 18 activities were slated to join 100 other invited participants in formulating representative opinions on the amendments, but had delayed the process by demanding that committee chairman Warakorn Samakoses address complaints they made at previous public hearing in four regions.
Warakorn, who was in another room for a discussion on how the public would benefit from the amendments, refused to respond to their demand, claiming the public forums were already completed.
Some of the PHSM members, objecting to a lack of transparency in the process, then refused to participate in the smaller-group public-consultation session. After formally submitting a complaint to Warakorn via a senior health official, they left the conference at the Central Government Complex Hotel and Convention Centre on Chaengwattana Road.
The amendment-drafting committee is expected to submit a summary of its proposals to the Minister of Public Health on July 18.