The medical network also called for a ban on hospitals forcing relatives of patients to sign medical bills acceptance within the first 72 hours after their emergency admissions.
The network, led by Mrs Preeyanan Lorsermvattana, thanked Gen Prayut after a quick response to its call on last Tuesday (May 12), when it filed a petition signed by 33,000 people calling on Gen Prayut to impose controls on private hospitals charging “unreasonably high” medical service fees.
Gen Prayut later instructed the Public Health and Commerce ministries to set median prices for medical care and medicines provided by private hospitals.
In its call yesterday, the network proposed that the government impose short-term or interim measures within a month to prevent private hospitals from collecting deposits or enforcing mandatory bill acceptance agreements within the first 72 hours after emergency admissions.
After the 72-hour period, the hospital must transfer the patient to a hospital where his or her healthcare is covered by the universal healthcare scheme, the network proposed.
However, in the situation of no hospital beds available, three agencies – the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the Social Security Office and the Comptroller General’s Department – must step in to help provide a bed for the patient.
For medium- and long-term proposals, the network called on Gen Prayut to pass the Medical Malpractice Victim Protection draft law and amend the 1982 Medical Profession Act for better transparency and justice for the public.
It also reiterated its call for Gen Prayut to execute Section 44 of the interim constitution to dissolve the Medical Council’s elected board and select new board members to avoid conflict of interest.
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