Government boosts medical treatment options under Bt30 healthcare scheme

Related story:
Public Health Ministry to pilot healthcare anywhere scheme in some provinces early next year

The approval came during the 11th committee meeting presided over by Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, while the committee will improve four options:

1. People can receive medical treatment at primary care units in Bangkok and its vicinity under the scheme from November 1. The Ministry of Public Health and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will expand the network of primary care units and enable people to check their eligibility and authenticate themselves by using their ID card.

2. In-patients in the scheme can receive medical treatment at hospitals by using only their ID card instead of the patient transfer form that previously caused trouble when the patient transfer form expired. This scheme will be piloted in Nakhon Ratchasima province from November 1, and in Bangkok and its vicinity from January 1 next year before expanding to other provinces.

3. Cancer patients can receive treatment in hospitals specialising in providing cancer treatment protocol, telehealth, telepharmacy, and home chemotherapy nationwide from January 1 next year. As methods to transfer cancer patients in the scheme may hinder them from receiving treatment quickly, the NHSO will grant a certificate and medical history for cancer patients to receive medical treatment at the said hospitals via three channels: NHSO hotline 1330, NHSO application, or contact the hospital directly.

4. People can change the primary care unit they would like to receive medical treatment from nationwide without waiting for 15 days via NHSO application from January 1 next year, in which primary care units can check eligibility and claim treatment fees by using the patients' ID card.