Free emergency treatment: Only 40% qualify

Patients stung by emergency medical fees. Songkran jump in people seeking emergency treatment, but most do not qualify.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE

Patients stung by medical fees

16/04/2017
Apinya Wipatayotin

Only around 40% of the patients who have requested the new free government subsidised emergency medical treatment recently have received it.

Free emergency treatment is guaranteed to Thai citizens under Thailand's new Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (Ucep) law if the patients are able to meet certain conditions.

A total of 1,366 people have contacted the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) to inquire about their rights since the policy was implemented on April 1.

However, only 538 medical cases were found to have "legitimacy" under the conditions required by the regulations.

This is according to National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) secretary-general Atchariya Pangma.

[Note that Sunday's Bangkok Post editorial discusses patients with life-threatening medical conditions who have been denied free emergency care (read here).]

SONGKRAN JUMP IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CASES

The number of requests for emergency treatment was high on the first day of the Songkran Festival.

There were a total of 243 cases, but only 80 could get access to the right for free treatment, said Mr Atchariya,

Round-the-clock emergency call services could be made by calling 1669 to facilitate people who are in need.

People who access the UCEP rights must be a member of one of the three government national healthcare plans: the National Health Security Fund, Social Security Fund or the fund for medical welfare to state officials.

The criteria to access the system include:

1. Severe symptoms of unconsciousness,

2. Breathing difficulties,

3. Acute chest pain,

4. Severe cases related to respiratory problems,

5. Blood circulation issues and

6. Brain system issues.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1232878/patients-stung-by-medical-fees

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1232966/care-system-sadly-in-an-unhealthy-state

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