PUBLISHED: 29 Mar 2025 at 06: 12
The Dental Council of Thailand has called on the Minister of Labour to boost social security members ‘ accessibility to medical benefits.
The Thursday debate on how to maintain fairer access to healthcare services for clients across various methods was held between Dental Council president Dr Chairat Chaloemratroj and Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Dr Wirasak Phutthasri, a committee member who participated in the conversation, said the government proposed to help insured individuals to get medical treatment at any common hospital.
This plan aims to ensure that if the patient’s medical care price rises above the insurance limit of 900 baht a year, the cost can still be covered, specifically for low-income subscribers.
Dental care has been covered by social security benefits for at least 20 years, with the latest insurance control of 900 ringgit at any medical doctor, said Dr Wirasak.
” The conversation was that we don’t need to ask for the social security members to add more each quarter for the SSO, but that we support those whose dental fees exceed 900 ringgit by letting them get the remedy at a public hospital”, said Dr Wirasak.
Currently, gold card holders, Thais under the universal healthcare scheme, are not subject to dental treatment fees, depending on the kind of treatment they receive and how often they get it each year at all public hospitals across the country.
” It can ensure more equal access to dental services for social security subscribers, compared to gold card holders. They can either receive services at either the private or the public hospitals, depending on the fees”, said Dr Wirasak.
The labour ministry-run social security scheme has recently been scrutinised in comparison with the public health ministry-run gold card scheme, broadly regarding access to services and the costs subscribers must shoulder.
Dr Wirasak said other details like the types of dental services provided for subscribers were also discussed, as well as additional voluntary contribution fees for certain dental services. This is to allow clarity on types of benefits for subscribers and for them to receive them fully.