Thai Cabinet postpones Public Health Ministry’s cancellation of Universal Coverage scheme for Covid-19 emergency patients

PHOTO: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

Bangkok –

The Thai Cabinet Committee today, February 22nd, announced the delay of the Public Health Ministry’s plan of canceling the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) scheme in March.

Last week, the Public Health Ministry had signed the announcement to cancel the UCEP’s free Covid-19 treatment for Thai people in all hospitals and allow them to use their medical rights to access health care services for free treatment to help reserve hospital beds for critically ill Covid-19 patients and other in-patients.

The UCEP would be provided for critically ill Covid-19 patients, such as shock, unconsciousness, severe shortness of breath, weak limbs, etc. The change would be put into effect in early March, according to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

In layman’s terms, the proposal meant if someone (Thai national or foreigner with work permit) with mild or asymptomatic symptoms wanted hospital care they would need to go to their hospital on record, usually in their home province, or pay, unless they were critically ill. This was meant to “discourage” people without major symptoms potentially clogging hospital services and to free up private hospitals for other treatments and care.

Under the UCEP, they can go to any hospital and get free care regardless of their level of severity.

However, the Cabinet has postponed the announcement today without further notice, reasoning that the daily infection cases were considerably high. The delay would also be beneficial for people to study and understand their own health care services and for the health department to prepare sufficient support for Covid-19 patients that may have a tendency to increase as well.

This is, however, according to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul only a temporary delay.

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Nop Meechukhun
National News Writer at The Pattaya News from September 2020 to October, 2022. Born and raised in Bangkok, Nop enjoys telling stories of her hometown through her words and pictures. Her educational experience in the United States and her passion for journalism have shaped her genuine interests in society, politics, education, culture, and art.