Health-care programme needs more staff, funds
[The Nation, 29 September 2006]
Panelists at a seminar on reform of the national health-care
programme expressed support yesterday for the Bt30-per-medicalvisit
scheme. However, they made many recommendations on
how the scheme could be improved. The seminar, organized
by the Thai Journalist Association, invited many outstanding figures
as panelists. These included Ammar Siamwalla, an advisor to Thailand
Development Research Institute (TDRI), Dr Yuppadee Sirisinsuk,
a lecturer at the Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Phu Kradeung Hospital Director Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukoolkiat
and health-care activist Jon Ungphakorn... Ammar suggested the scheme
should have more workers and more funding…Yupadee agreed the
scheme should receive more subsidies through various funds...Kriangsak
said medical staff should receive better remuneration and those assigned
to work in remote areas should get extra...Jon recommended a short-term
measure for the Bt30 per visit scheme. ‘For the short term, the Public Health
Ministry should not exert its control over the National Health Security Offi
ce so it can represent people — not the Public Health Ministry,’ he said.