The National Health Security Office (NHSO) recently approved the increased compensation, which took effect on February 1, Dr Sa-nguan Nitayarumphong, the secretary-general of the NHSO, said yesterday.

The increase is intended to help curb the rise in the number of lawsuits filed against state doctors. The maximum compensation for death or complete physical ability has been adjusted to Bt200,000 from Bt80,000; to Bt120,000 from Bt50,000 for loss of organs or partial disability; and to Bt50,000 from Bt20,000 in case of chronic injuries or illnesses.

The compensation is paid on the basis of injury severity and without the burden of proof. However it does not cover losses caused by disease progression or general complications of diseases, Sa-nguan said.

The NHSO board also agreed to add the term “caretakers” to the list of beneficiaries which used to cover only “relatives”, he added.

Requests for compensation can be filed at any provincial health office up to one year after a loss happens, Sa-nguan said. Eighty-five compensation cases were recorded in 2004, costing Bt4.5 million. In 2005, there were 221 cases that covered Bt12.8 million, while in the current year to the end of January, there were 145 cases with pay-outs reaching Bt8.6 million, Sa-nguan said.

Compensation allowed under Article 41 of the National Health Security Act is highly beneficial to the sick and helps mitigate conflicts between patients and hospitals, said Professor Luechai Sri-nguenyuang from Mahidol University, who reviewed the scheme’s mechanism.

Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

The Nation