Major insurers are scaling back new lump-sum plans as costs rise, accelerating the shift to co-payments and boosting interest in public-hospital cover.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed on Thursday (August 15) that the Universal Healthcare system will not be subjected to any changes that could burden people, such as the co-payment of 10 to 20 per cent of their medical bills to ease the government’s financial burden.