Thais to benefit from revived Bt30 universal healthcare scheme

BANGKOK, August 13 (TNA) - Thai people will benefit from the government's revived 30-baht universal healthcare program as of early next month. Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri told reporters on Monday after the revived 30-baht-per-visit universal healthcare program is launched nationwide on September 1, 2012, people will then be allowed to now change their choices of hospitals under the scheme up to four times a year, from two times a year previously. Wittaya said that participating medical facilities under the Thai government's revived 30-baht universal healthcare initiative include general hospitals, regional-centre hospitals, community hospitals and even some private hospitals. According to the public health minister, Thai patients can use only their identity cards (ID cards) to equally access to the universal healthcare service nationwide and to even seek the change of hospitals located near their places or homes. (TNA)