The benefit costs 30 baht, or $0.85, and will be part of Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage Scheme (UHCS), also known as the Gold Card.
Acting Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin told local media that citizens have been complaining for years about regulations that force them to visit hospitals registered under UHCS before being transferred to other centers for specialized treatment.
Many Thais live far from registered hospitals or outside their home provinces, causing much discomfort and rejection, but the pilot project seeks to reform the national health security system by synchronizing and sharing health data between multiple hospitals and clinics.
Therefore, beneficiaries of comprehensive health care services will be able to access medical services and health care from any location registered in the plan.
According to Thai Ku Fah, the pilot scheme has been expanded to 46 provinces (out of a total of 76), with Bangkok set to join from August 26.
Somsak said the project has been postponed indefinitely, pending the formation of the new government and the announcement of its policies before parliament, although all conditions – in terms of infrastructure – are in place for safe implementation in the future.
Paithongtarn Shinawatra has been Thailand’s prime minister for just four days, and now she must appoint new heads of various ministries.
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