News Forum - Health Minister urged to extend Covid treatment coverage to April

[Thaiger]

The government is being urged to reconsider its decision to end coverage for Covid-19 treatment under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients scheme. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had previously announced that Covid treatment would be excluded from the UCEP scheme from March 1. However, his deputy, Sathit Pitutecha, argues now is not the time, given that infections are on the rise. On Saturday, Thailand reported 16,330 new infections and 25 deaths, the highest since August 29 last year, according to a Bangkok Post report. As a result, Sathit says he plans to ask Anutin to postpone the exclusion of […]

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[Stonker]

It now appears that, as I suggested was a possibility elsewhere, this doesn't just apply to free coverage in private hospitals (which was seldom if ever used by Thais under the UC scheme due to the extra charges involved) but also applies to coverage in state hospitals other than where Thais are registered - not just their home province but home district.

If so (IF, again), that would mean all the casual workers in places like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, who aren't rgeistered locally would HAVE to go back to their home province and dsitrict for treatment and could not be treated where they were living and working or visiting.

That could be as much as a third of the population in places like Bangkok.

The only reason I can think of for doing that (IF it's being done) is to force those infected people to leave Bangkok and elsewhere and go 'home' for treatment, so reducing the numbers in those areas.

 

 

 

[Jason]

Hmmm...I recall commenting on this situation not so long ago. Does Covid suddenly stop one day that the Thai Government  nominates?? I don't think so. So keep it in place. You can't run an economy without people.