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MoLab Panda Explains Private Hospitals Pulling Out of Universal Health Coverage Scheme

MoLab Panda Explains Private Hospitals Pulling Out of Universal Health Coverage Scheme

Khaosod•Society•8d ago

Reader Briefing

Private hospitals are withdrawing from Thailand's 'Gold Card' healthcare scheme due to slow payments from the National Health Security Office, while public hospitals are strained.

  • •Private hospitals are withdrawing from the 'Gold Card' (Universal Health Coverage) scheme.
  • •The reason cited is slow and incomplete payments from the National Health Security Office (NHSO).
  • •Public hospitals are reportedly facing severe financial strain and liquidity issues due to this situation.
  • •The issue is causing widespread public inconvenience.

Overview

  • •On May 6, 2026, private hospitals began announcing their withdrawal from the National Health Security Scheme.
  • •Private hospitals are withdrawing from the 'Gold Card' scheme due to slow and incomplete payments from the National Health Security Office (NHSO).
  • •This withdrawal is causing widespread inconvenience to the public seeking healthcare services.
  • •Private hospitals are suffering financial losses because they have to pay for patients first before receiving reimbursements from the NHSO.
  • •Public hospitals are burdened with medication costs and equipment expenses, facing liquidity shortages and potential collapse.
  • •MoLab Panda, a medical technologist, analyzed the reasons behind the private hospitals' withdrawal.
  • •The 'Gold Card' scheme operates on a system where hospitals provide care and claim reimbursement from the NHSO holding the funds.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Khaosod (Thai Version)

Source: Khaosod (Original)

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Key Quotes

ภาคภูมิ เดชหัสดิน (MoLab Panda)
"'Gold Card' means hospitals pay for patients first, then claim from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) which holds the money, but NHSO has issues with slow, incomplete payments, causing private hospitals to withdraw due to losses."
บัตรทอง ก็คือโรงพยาบาลเป็นผู้ออกเงินให้คนไข้ไปก่อน แล้วโรงพยาบาลค่อยไปเบิกจากสำนักงานหลักประกันสุขภาพแห่งชาติ (สปสช.) ที่เป็นคนถือเงิน แต่ สปสช. ติดปัญหา จ่ายช้า จ่ายไม่ครบ เมื่อโรงพยาบาลเอกชนขาดทุนก็ทยอยขอถอนตัว
ภาคภูมิ เดชหัสดิน (MoLab Panda)
"But public hospitals cannot withdraw; they are burdened by medication and equipment costs until they break, facing liquidity shortages and preparing to collapse."
แต่โรงพยาบาลรัฐถอนตัวไม่ได้ แบกค่ายา ค่าอุปกรณ์ จนหลังหัก ขาดแคลนสภาพคล่อง เตรียมพัง

Key Entities

Person

MoLab Panda(หมอแล็บแพนด้า)
MoLab Panda is a medical technologist who analyzed the reasons for private hospitals withdrawing from the 'Gold Card' scheme.
Phakphum Detthadin(ภาคภูมิ เดชหัสดิน)
Phakphum Detthadin is the medical technologist behind the Facebook page 'MoLab Panda', providing analysis on healthcare issues.

Organization

Private Hospitals(รพ.เอกชน)
Private hospitals are entities that are withdrawing from the 'Gold Card' scheme due to financial issues.
NHSO(สปสช.)
The NHSO (National Health Security Office) is the organization responsible for holding funds and reimbursing hospitals under the 'Gold Card' scheme.
Public Hospitals(รพ.รัฐ)
Public hospitals are healthcare facilities that are unable to withdraw from the 'Gold Card' scheme and are reportedly facing severe financial strain.

Law

Gold Card Scheme(บัตรทอง)
The 'Gold Card' Scheme, also known as the Universal Health Coverage scheme, is a healthcare system facing withdrawal from private providers.
National Health Security Scheme(ระบบหลักประกันสุขภาพแห่งชาติ)
The National Health Security Scheme is the official name for the 'Gold Card' system that private hospitals are leaving.
30 Baht Card(บัตร 30 บาท)
The '30 Baht Card' is an alternative name for the 'Gold Card' scheme, referring to a nominal co-payment.