Agencies told to cut health care costs

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday summoned government agencies responsible for the central health programmes to find ways to make the programmes more efficient to rein in the government's health-related costs.

Labour Minister Phaitoon Kaeothong said Abhisit was concerned with the increasing social expenses, which could reduce the government's investment capability. The ministries of Public Health and Labour as well as other agencies were instructed to draw up measures to cut or maintain health expenses, without jeopardising the quality of the service.

Finance Ministry permanent secretary Sathit Limpongpan said that within a month, a study to restructure the overlapping three health and welfare systems, the Social Security Fund, the system for civil servants and the universal health programme, for higher efficiency will be completed. Civil servants' health costs have risen from Bt30 billion ten years ago to nearly Bt80 billion, he said.

Phaitoon said foreign workers in Thailand may be required to buy health and life insurance policies. The compulsory policy should cost no more than Bt500 per year, and this will entitle the workers out-of-office sickness, disability and loss of life.