Govt finding ways to lower fees at private hospitals

The government is adamant that drugs and medical supplies be added to the list of controlled products and services in the hope of lowering medical bills at private hospitals.

Commerce Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong convened a meeting on Wednesday with representatives of the Ministry of Public Health and private hospitals including BNH Hospital, Bangpakok 3 Hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Mongkutwattana Hospital, and Vibhavadi Hospital as well as the Thai Life Assurance Association, the Thai General Insurance Association, and the Foundation for Consumers.

The meeting discussed the possibility of regulating the prices of medical supplies and service fees at private hospitals.

Wichai Pochanakit, the Director General of the Department of Internal Trade, said the meeting proposed that medical supplies and services be added to the list of products and services for which prices are regulated by the Ministry of Commerce. The proposal will be presented to the Central Committee on Goods and Services this January 9th.

In the meantime, an ad hoc sub-committee will be appointed to standardize the prices of medical supplies and health service fees based on the actual costs, according to Wichai.

Wichai expects the details to be finalized in three months.

Saree Aongsomwang, the Secretary General of the Foundation for Consumers, asked government agencies to step up their PR campaigns to inform the public of their rights and entitlement to medical services.

NNT

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