Political parties have expressed support for equality in benefits from the country's three healthcare schemes.
Representatives from parties and health advocates took part in a seminar on political parties and health insurance schemes jointly organised by the Health to Heart Foundation and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in Bangkok yesterday.
Currently, Thailand has three medical welfare funds. They are the government's welfare fund for government officials and bureaucrats, a social security fund for employees, and the Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) fund -- a welfare scheme that provides health care assistance to 48 million people.
Thanapol Dokkaew, chairman of the Kidney Association of Thailand, said the three systems are not equal and the welfare given to civil servants appears to be more than what's given to ordinary people.
He said the three funds should be combined into a single one.
According to Mr Thanapol, drug prices quoted in the three systems are different and buying medicine through just one entity could help secure the best bargain prices.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said there is a need to equate the quality of medical treatment and medicines in all the systems.
He went on to say that employees in social security funds should be allowed to make their own decisions as to whether they should still be in such a system. If they do not want to make contributions to the funds, they can defect to the UHC fund, the former prime minister said.
According to him, the tax system and budget allocation must be improved to make sure enough money is earmarked for the healthcare schemes.
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, chief of Pheu Thai's strategy committee, said the efficiency of health care schemes must be improved to ensure all people have equal access to qualified medical treatments.
A single database must be used to ease operational costs and to give patients fast access to medical treatment, she said.
Suvit Maesincee, deputy leader of Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), said his camp will gear up efforts to ensure the three funds have equal benefits. Welfare provided under the three systems must also be increased.
Meanwhile, health personnel need to get paid more and hospitals must have more freedom to operate by themselves, according to Mr Suvit.
Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said healthcare welfare for civil servants must grow at a slower rate and the UHC fund should have more support.
"This would really create equal healthcare insurance schemes for all," said Mr Thanathorn.
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