Latest news with #NationalHealthSecurityOffice
Bangkok Post
17-07-2025
- Health
- Bangkok Post
‘Gold card' healthcare now covers cancer patients' transport costs
Free transport services are now available to cancer patients seeking certain advanced treatments under Thailand's universal healthcare programme, the government has announced. The National Health Security Board has approved funding for the 'gold card' unicersal coverage programme operated by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to cover transport costs for patients requiring three high-end cancer treatments — proton therapy, eye plaque brachytherapy for ocular tumours, and robotic surgery — which are currently available only at major hospitals. 'Many patients have previously faced financial hardship due to interprovincial travel expenses,' deputy government spokeswoman Sasikarn Wattanachan said on Thursday. 'This new benefit not only eases the financial burden but also increases access to life-saving care for patients and their families. It marks a significant step forward in improving the quality of life for Thai people.' Under the programme, the NHSO has established a coordination system linking referring hospitals with destination facilities. This includes arranging door-to-door transport for cancer patients and their relatives from their homes to designated public transport services without the need for advance payment. Upon arrival, connecting transport is provided to the treatment hospitals. The service covers round-trip journeys throughout the treatment process and is now operational, said Ms Sasikarn. 'The government is committed to developing and upgrading the national health security system to ensure equal access for all,' she said. 'We believe this measure will reduce burdens, build confidence and genuinely improve the quality of life for cancer patients.'
Bangkok Post
14-07-2025
- Health
- Bangkok Post
NHSO gives approval for hiring of 18,000 carers
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) board has approved the hiring of 18,000 carers to assist over 100,000 dependent patients nationwide under a programme financed by the economic stimulus fund. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, speaking as chairman of the NHSO board, announced that the board meeting on July 7 had acknowledged the cabinet's resolution supporting a healthcare services programme for dependent individuals as part of the government's 2025 economic stimulus policy. The board also approved in principle the payment of public health services for dependent individuals. Mr Somsak explained that employing caregivers is a key measure to support the elderly population with dependency needs, which continues to grow. The initiative aims to reduce the burden on families and the state while also creating local employment and generating community income. The programme has been endorsed by the government's economic stimulus policy committee and included in the national economic recovery strategy. Following cabinet approval on June 24, 2025, the economic stimulus package--totalling 157 billion baht--allocated 1.115 billion baht to the NHSO for community-based economic development. The NHSO then developed a framework for managing payments for health services for dependent individuals, specifically for caregiver employment. This funding is separate from the Long-Term Care (LTC) budget under the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme and will follow the Interior Ministry's 2019 regulations regarding community care volunteers and related expense claims. "From the budget, we expect to hire approximately 18,000 caregivers to serve 106,806 dependent individuals nationwide. "The NHSO has already prepared the caregiver employment budget for the following fiscal year. A national-level plan for caregiver hiring is also being drafted and will soon be presented to the cabinet. The ratio of caregivers to dependents will be determined by local administrative organisations based on the number of dependents in each area," Mr Somsak stated.
