Pheu Thai Outlines Seven-Point Health Card Reform Plan
Pheu Thai proposes seven reforms to Thailand's universal health insurance scheme, including restructuring the health board to include more doctors and patients while reducing government officials, and establishing uniform benefits across al
Pheu Thai party list MP Ekaphop Sithiwannatana revealed the party's stance on the universal health insurance scheme, known as the gold card, following questions from the Rural Doctors Association about the party's position. Pheu Thai supports amending the National Health Security Act of 2002 to address weaknesses and make the system more sustainable and efficient in terms of budget, service quality, and worker morale.
Ekaphop outlined seven key amendments: (1) Restructure the National Health Security Board by increasing representation from service users and healthcare providers like doctors and nurses while reducing government officials, addressing the board's stagnation and lack of fresh perspectives; (2) Promote democracy by having some board members elected directly to enhance accountability in decision-making; (3) Use quality academic data to select benefit packages and adjust payment rates from the National Health Security Office to reflect actual costs; (4) Establish uniform core benefits across all three funds—the National Health Security Fund, Social Security Fund, and civil service medical benefits—to eliminate the Robin Hood phenomenon where hospitals shift funds between schemes; (5) Increase budgets and support personnel with fair compensation to prevent brain drain and staff turnover; (6) Secure additional funding from those able to pay for supplementary benefits, including employers as employee welfare, private insurance holders, and state support for informal workers and farmers; and (7) Strengthen primary healthcare services through investments in community and workplace health promotion, treatment, and accurate referrals.
Ekaphop stated that most proposals came from Pheu Thai's previous election platform, except point two, which he and fellow MPs added. The party will review all proposals, including the government's draft law, before deciding on its approach. He emphasized: "The party affirms it will not support any law that reduces public benefits or increases public burden in accessing healthcare, and will push for greater representation of the public and service providers on the health security board while reducing government proportion."
