The move follows complaints about overpriced services and drugs at some hospitals.
Median prices for medical care and medicines offered at private hospitals should meet international standards especially since Thailand is preparing to join the Asean Economic Community (AEC) at the end of this year, Gen Prayut told the cabinet meeting yesterday.
The prime minister told the ministries to set standard prices for every type of medical treatment and all classes of medicines used by them, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.
Gen Prayut also wanted the ministries to provide explanations as to why only specific drugs are needed for certain treatments, Maj Gen Sansern said.
Most importantly, the premier wanted the ministries to ensure the difference in prices quoted by private and state-run hospitals for the same treatment must not be excessive, Maj Gen Sansern said.
After the cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said that although he had instructed the Public Health Ministry's legal team to look into complaints about excessive medical bills at private hospitals, he did not want to step in to impose tighter controls on private hospitals.
He said he was concerned that if private hospitals overcharge patients – especially foreigners – it could adversely affect the country's aim to become a healthcare hub.
Many foreigners come to Thailand to visit doctors because prices are cheaper than anywhere else while the quality of treatment is good, Gen Prayut said.
"The complaints about private hospitals being too pricey are likely to be upheld, but it would be impossible to make healthcare service rates at private hospitals the same as those offered at state hospitals," Gen Prayut said.
Although there is a specific law allowing private hospitals to charge patients at higher rates than state hospitals, it would be unacceptable if the price difference, for instance, was more than seven or eight times higher, he said.
Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said a meeting with other agencies, including the Commerce Ministry, the Medical Council and the Consumer Protection Board, will be held Friday (May 15) to discuss prices.
Meanwhile, The Thai Medical Error Network also yesterday submitted a petition with 33,000 signatures to the government, calling for the establishment of a special panel to control medical fees charged by private hospitals.
Preeyanan Lorsermvattana, president of the network, submitted the petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha through Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin.
The network is campaigning for the government to set up a committee to control medical fees after receiving complaints, with supporting evidence, that private hospitals have overcharged patients.
Mrs Preeyanan said in the two weeks since the launch of the campaign more than 33,000 people have already signed in support of it.
She said the network wants Gen Prayut to exercise his power under Section 44 of the interim constitution and issue an order to disband the board of the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) and replace it with a central committee made up of impartial members with expertise in various fields to oversee the problem.