According to experts, the 30-baht silver card plan, which is known as the ubiquitous healthcare policy, is unlikely to provide enough security to all citizens. It is suggested that it be changed to ensure future financial viability.
The Pheu Thai Party’s populist scheme, which was launched over the course of 20 years, aims to ensure that all Thais, particularly the poor, receive equal medical care without having to pay anything.
The program was first introduced in 2002 with a 30-baht co-payment per attend required.
But, that was changed a few years after, giving users the ability to receive free medical care.
According to a network of hospitals and health staff, the program has caused issues for state-owned clinics. They are now facing increased physician visits, staff shortages and fiscal shortfalls, it said.
The group claims that the universal healthcare system is in danger of collapsing and has requested motion from the Ministry of Public Health.
It made a point about the rising prices of health care and the rising number of patients with more challenging illnesses.
Additionally, it noted a rising number of seniors and a declining range of citizens in the nation.
Suffering team
Academicians and health experts concur that the system needs to be changed to make it more economically stable.
Dr. Somsak Tiankao of Srinagarind Hospital at Khon Kaen University claimed that the hospital loses approximately 100 million baht annually as a result of a regular overflow of patients.
He said the number of people has increased by 400 %, especially after the release of the agreement’s” cancer anywhere” plan.
The yearly number of cancer people at the hospital, which increased from 6, 000 to 25, 000 in a matter of decades, has made it difficult for health workers to provide proper support to every person, he said.
More importantly, many people reported no receiving care in day due to long queues, he said.
He added that some state-owned institutions are putting in extra effort to make money to help them make money off of their financial loss.
He said the plans include opening for common donations and opening specific health clinics for out-patients.
Dr. Somsak said that unless treatments are put in place, his clinic may be forced to lower its standards to deal with the tight budget, which might include restricting laboratory use as well as everyday patient visits.
It might occur in the next five years because we will fully [become ] an ageing society, which raises the cost of medical care due to more complex diseases.
” Worst, we might have a strike of medical staff who suffer from]work ] overload. The health department should exercise its power and be truthful, he said, and not adhere to the political stance that may ultimately lead to the demise of health security.
Dr. Somsak anticipates that the care common scheme will receive more of the country’s budget in the future. Yet, he is concerned it will not target the root of the problem.
The new authorities should regard allowing patients under the general care plan to pay more, beyond the 30-baht co-pay ceiling, to help reduce the state’s economic burden, he said.
He further stated that those who are financially capable should be able to pay extra for better health care rather than just free medical care.
Somsak: Extend user-pays
Budget improve
Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, chairman of the Rural Doctor Society, said the budget allocation for the universal healthcare system is about 7 %, or about 200 billion baht, of the 3-trillion-baht governmental resources.
The number increases by 3 % per month, but it is still not enough to sustain the system, he said.
The new government ought to think about providing emergency funds to help the organization reduce the financial strain on state-owned institutions in the near future.
However, the government may invest more in area hospitals or medium-sized hospitals because they are the main locations for locals to receive medical care, he said.
If effective, it may reduce the number of people visiting key clinics, he said.
Dr. Supat urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to improve the universal healthcare system, which is regarded as one of the party’s most important policies, by chairing the board of the National Health Security Office ( NHSO ).
Additionally, he claimed that the country should have a master plan for healthcare security in place to ensure that it achieves green medical security.
In addition, Nuttanan Wichitaksorn of the Thailand Development Research Institute claimed that numerous hospitals affiliated with the Social Security Fund and the general health plan have complained about significant losses brought on by a lack of government money.
He claimed that the NHSO should be in charge of the healthcare costs under the two schemes for better control.
” I believe there should be some transformation to the country’s healthcare system, otherwise it will experience future economic unrest.”
Because it is crucial to provide Thai people with access to quality medical care, he said,” the system may be abolished.”
” We may wait and see what the next phase of the program may be.”
If there is n’t a plan to promote healthy lifestyles in Thailand, according to a recent report from the TDRI, Thailand’s healthcare expenditures will reach 2.2 trillion baht by 2032.
Supat: Focus on small services