They are kicking around the idea of changing it to 300 baht, for people like is in general wouldn't really mean much. But, to farmers ect, it would. Debate is in progress.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... t-how-much

300 baht for the hi so yellow shirts would be insignificant, but for the average farmer/factory worker it could be a life changer, bad idea.

For poor people, they will let you die while waiting for attn, Its the same result 30bt or not.

No idea where it will end up, 300 baht is what I pay at Bangkok hospital for a DR. visit

That is one day pay for most Thai's in this region. Don't cut the Udon hospital down. That is where my wife had her surgery and the job was done good, Cost to the Hospital 30 Baht. Surgeon 10 K. We have some follow ups being done at Bangkok Hospital for an infection, that can happen in any hospital. it's a daily clean up now about 200 baht day, when the nurse does it. %00 when a Dr. gets involved.

The cost of that surgery at Bangkok Hospital same surgeon 100K.

So I have nothing bad to say about Udon Hospital saved our butts. My carries insurance but this was deemed to pre existing after a change of policies. Now will my wife be able to pay for health insurance after my death I have no idea. That is why she signed up for it.

Me I hope it stays the same.

I think part of the governments problem is they don't have accurate data. Eligibility is one issue that may pose some problems. The plan was for the rural poor. Those who have jobs are supposed to be covered under the social security plan and those who have businesses should have insurance and government civil employees are on a separate plan.

This may be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

And what of all the older and disabled people, no longer working and living on their generous 600 baht a month pensions .... They are the ones who need more frequent visits. Maybe their children will pay ..... or maybe not.

I'm sure the same arguments are going on with the powers to be. Maybe a sliding scale based on income would be an alternative. I don't know. I do know one thing what they currently have is far better then what the States currently have.

You might have just hit the nail on the head, Thailand has an aging problem in a lot of ways. I see times now where the younger members of the families are not helping the older generation as they once did. People are not living is the same areas all their lives now. They move to areas like Bangkok where they get paid better, But, the expenses are more. As the populations ages medical costs are bound to go up.

The younger people are making more then they did before. But, they are also paying more. I'm not really sure that extra 100 baht a day made any real s difference in the end.Just about everything costs more these days. Hence less usable money to help the older generation.

The author of the original article spoke of people going for a sneeze to see doctor. I would venture to say, he has never sit and waited to see a Dr, for 12 to as much a 18 hours. In a non emergency case. I doubt anyone goes there, if they have other choices. Personally with as many people as they see through a day I think they do a heck of a job. In California we had County Hospitals that were much the same as to payment , a place where people could go when they had no money. But, no one went there by choice, it was what was available to them.

I don't think it is any different here on our trips to Bangkok Hospital, most of the time it's a busy place. It is primarily Thai and People from Lao there, Not what is commonly known as farrangs. So for the most part it's simply people who can not afford Bangkok, AEK, Wattana or the Army Hospital.

Well we will see how they work through this. But, in my thoughts the guy who wrote that article has has little experience, in the area he wrote of.

Part of the reason the provincial hospital may be overcrowded is the inability to get doctors to staff the community hospitals and the PCUs. Doctors are allowed to become specialist to avoid working in the rural areas. They all want to work in the big cities where they can operate a clinic and/or work at the private hospitals.

There is also a myriad of government agencies involved in healthcare. Here in Udon you have Udon Thani Hospital adm. by the Ministry of Health; The Cancer Center adm. by Dept of Medical Services; KaiPrachak; adm. Thai Army; the regional support hospitals are an individual Heart Center of the Northeast adm. Khon Kaen University; and Srinagarind Hospital adm. Khon Kaen University. Through a referral system a 30 baht patient can get to these more specialized service not available at their assigned hospital.

All of these factors could play into increasing cost.

A lot of doctors here in Udon have private clinics. A lot of the doctors at Udon hospital also work at Bangkok Hospital as well.

But, yes they would make more money in Bangkok I would imagine.

Just an update:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 39213.html