Dr. Lab Panda Analyzes Why Private Hospitals Are Withdrawing from Gold Card Scheme
Private hospitals are withdrawing from Thailand's Gold Card health scheme due to delayed and incomplete reimbursements from the National Health Security Office, forcing them to absorb costs upfront while waiting for payment.
Over the past 2-3 days, multiple private hospitals have announced their withdrawal from the National Health Security Scheme (Gold Card or 30-baht card), causing widespread disruption for patients. Medical technician Pakpumi Dechahsadin, who runs the popular "Dr. Lab Panda" Facebook page, recently commented on the issue, explaining: "Under the Gold Card system, hospitals must pay patients upfront and then claim reimbursement from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), which holds the funds. However, the NHSO has faced problems—making late payments and paying incomplete amounts. When private hospitals can't sustain losses, they withdraw from the scheme, but state hospitals have no choice but to continue. They're forced to absorb drug and equipment costs until reimbursement, creating cash flow problems and risking financial collapse."
