Stable Gold Card Budget at NHSO Affirmed by Leadership, Denying Crisis Claims
Stopping the financial hemorrhage plaguing 13 public hospitals in Thailand's universally-loved healthcare scheme, the "30-baht gold card," has turned the nation's attention to the National Health Security Office (NHSO).
This attention isn't all good, though—some claim the NHSO is responsible for the staggering budget deficit of over 4 billion baht these hospitals are facing. Concerns over the scheme's future are mounting, and transparency is the key demanded by the worried public.
Last week, executives from the Nation Group met with Dr. Jadej Thammatacharee, Secretary-General of the NHSO, to discuss the matter's burning issues. It was revealed that the June 5 meeting of the National Health Security Board, chaired by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, focused on addressing speculations about the financial viability of the "30-baht healthcare anywhere" policy.
While reassuring the public that the fund remains steady, the board resolved to implement a rigorous, standardized audit system. The NHSO will invite four global accounting giants, affectionately known as the "Big Four," to scrutinize the system's financial management and spending.
Dr. Jadej also shed some light on the over 306 million outpatient visits made last fiscal year, with the Ministry reporting 240 million of these visits were covered by the universal healthcare scheme. He clarified that public hospitals receive income from a variety of sources, and only 13 hospitals are currently reporting losses, which may not directly concern the healthcare scheme itself.
The financial landscape appears more complex than initially thought. Preliminary reviews suggest that discrepancies stem from differing interpretations of financial data. To ensure accountability, the NHSO issued an independent auditing team comprising the "Big Four." Their findings will provide recommendations for system-wide improvements.
Costs continue to rise for hospitals, and many worry the financial burden might outweigh the NHSO's reimbursements. To address this concern, a new committee will review various healthcare funding schemes to guarantee fairness and sustainability across the board.
Despite the challenges, Minister Somsak assures the public that the gold card system remains intact, and services continue as usual.
Transparency is critical to reassuring the worried public, so the NHSO made a significant move by publishing detailed spending data online. This information includes healthcare service payments and hospital performance data, allowing citizens to make informed choices regarding healthcare services.
Looking forward, the NHSO plans to expand this open data system, improving public communication and helping people make better choices. In cases where specific facilities face high volumes of complaints, the NHSO anticipates gradually releasing more data to help guide public decision-making and enhance overall service standards.
Tagline: NHSF grapples with a 4bn baht deficit; the Big Four to the rescue!
Related1. NHSO Increases Per-Patient Funding, Advances Long-term Reforms2. How the Universal Healthcare System Is Fighting Funding Challenges3. Thai Hospitals Requests Emergency Loans Amidst Budget Crisis
Insights
- The NHSO faces criticism for the current financial struggles among public hospitals in Thailand's universally-loved healthcare scheme.
- An independent audit by the Big Four global accounting firms was launched as part of a solution to address ongoing challenges and enhance transparency.
- Ongoing dialogue is underway among policymakers and healthcare experts to address underlying financial issues and implement broader systemic reforms.
- The financial struggles of public hospitals in Thailand's healthcare scheme, the "30-baht gold card," have raised concerns about the National Health Security Office's (NHSO) management of funds and medical-conditions, leading to a budget deficit of over 4 billion baht.
- To enhance transparency and address financial challenges, the NHSO has invited the "Big Four" global accounting firms to conduct a rigorous audit of their financial management and spending related to health-and-wellness.
- In an effort to ensure the system's long-term sustainability and fairness, a new committee will review various healthcare funding schemes while the NHSO expands its online open data system for public access, including finance and business-related data.
