ID holders to be given free access to govt hospitals

" We will come up with a resolution next week that allows SSS subscribers to use only an ID card to receive medical services at health care units under the Public Health Ministry, " Jurin said yesterday.

The Labour Minister had previously sent a letter to Jurin, asking the Public Health Ministry to improve medical services for SSS subscribers, and yesterday Jurin agreed to discuss the issue. Their meeting confirmed that only SSS subscribers registered with the health care unit under the Public Health Ministry would be allowed to use an ID card for medical services at ministry units and hospitals.

To date, about 9 million employees are registered under the Social Security Scheme - 40 percent with Public Health Ministry health care units and the rest with other ministry units.

Jurin said only SSS subscribers registered with health care units under the Public Health Ministry would be allowed to use ID cards for SSS benefits at these units.

Previously, the ministry had allowed National Health Security Office members to use their national ID as a gold card for treatment under the universal health scheme.

Wilaiwan Saetia, vice chairperson of the Thai Labour Reconciliation Committee, said there were no compelling reasons to use the ID card instead of SSS's member card.

She said the committee had previously asked the Senate's subcommittee for social security to revise the Social Security Act to allow SSS subscribers to receive medical treatment at any state hospital without paying for services.

To date, Wilaiwan said SSS subscribers had to pay for these services when they underwent treatment at out-patient divisions of hospitals they were not registered with.

Moreover, the law should also be revised to allow SSS subscribers to select the hospital they wanted to register with, preferably close to their workplace. SSS was also asked to improve the quality of its medical services.

Dr Prachumporn Boonchareon of the Thai Federation of General and Central Hospital doctors, said the use of ID cards instead of SSS member cards to receive medical services at health care units under the Public Health Ministry would not create a burden for hospitals; but the Social Security Office needed to improve its information technology system to help subscribers access medical services more easily.