The Public Health Ministry is referring patients in nine privately-run hospitals in Bangkok whose contracts with the gold card universal scheme have been terminated for wrongly charging patients, according to deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.
The hospitals were contracted by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to treat gold-card-holding outpatients, those receiving regular treatment and refer patients to other NHSO-contracted medical facilities.
However, the hospitals were found to have wrongly collected fees, which provided the grounds for scrapping the contract with the NHSO. The contracts ended officially on Oct 1.
Ms Traisuree said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has given an assurance the patients will continue to receive treatment and later be transferred to other facilities.
From today, patients at the hospitals can register for transfer via the NHSO and LINE ID apps, the 1330 NHSO hotline or they can request a transfer in person with the NHSO at its head office.
Ms Traisuree said patients should not rush to register for the transfer and were advised to consider hospitals close to their homes.
Pending the transfer, people may visit any clinic or hospital affiliated with the NHSO to obtain outpatient medical treatment.
The NHSO has also discussed with City Hall what will happen to patients requiring treatment while they wait for transfer.
The authorities have asked the hospitals to carry on treating such inpatients admitted after surgery, giving birth and for treatment of cancer.