PM wants Gold Card holders to be able to get treatment anywhere
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Ministry of Public Health to make arrangements so that people can receive treatment at any medical facility under the new Bt30 healthcare scheme (Gold Card) Anucha Burapachaisri, spokesman for the Office of Prime Minister, said on Sunday.
The new Bt30 healthcare scheme has been improved with four options:
1. Bangkokians with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can receive medical treatment at primary care units located in the district where they live from November 1. Patients can make an appointment via Paotang smartphone app, while the service will be expanded to all outpatients in the next phase.
2. In-patients in the scheme can receive medical treatment at hospitals without using the patient transfer form. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) will create an online system to link the patients' data between clinics and hospitals.
3. A Gold Card holder can change the primary care unit they would like to receive medical treatment from without waiting for 15 days. This option aims to facilitate people who have to move house.
4. Cancer patients can receive treatment in hospitals specialising in providing cancer treatment protocol, telehealth, telepharmacy, and home chemotherapy. Once primary care units send cancer patients' data to NHSO, the office will provide hospitals which are not crowded for the patient to enable them to receive treatment as soon as possible.