THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

15,000 people got emergency hospital coverage in past year, says health leader

15,000 people got emergency hospital coverage in past year, says health leader

About 15,000 people have received free medical help, including from private hospitals, under the Universal Coverage Emergency Patients (Ucep) over the past year.

Launched on April 1 last year, the initiative offers up to 72 hours of free medical services to emergency patients, including those admitted to private hospitals.
“The Ucep has hugely benefited people particularly at their critical times,” said National Health Security Office’s deputy secretary-general Dr Karoon Kuntiranont on Sunday. 
He said about two-thirds of Ucep patients were entitled to the universal healthcare scheme.
“For the scheme’s members, the NHSO will pay for their medical bill if their conditions remain critical after 72 hours and we are unable to send them to the hospital they are directly entitled to,” Karoon said. 
So far, he said the NHSO had been able to arrange the transfer for most cases. 
Karoon admitted that at the start of Ucep, some implementation problems occurred because of how various officials interpreted the definition of emergency patients. 
“But things are now running much smoother,” he said.

RELATED
nationthailand