However, they made many recommendations on how the scheme could be improved.

The seminar, organised by the Thai Journalists Association, invited many outstanding figures as panellists. These included Ammar Siamwalla, an adviser to Thailand Development Research Institute (TRDI), Dr Yuppadee Sirisinsuk, a lecturer at the Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Phu Kradeung Hospital director Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukoolkiat and healthcare activist Jon Ungphakorn.

Ammar suggested the scheme should have more workers and more funding.

"The Public Health Ministry should focus on the people's benefits - not its own," Ammar said. He suggested state hospitals should be transferred to local administrative bodies or become independent.

Yuppadee agreed the scheme should receive more subsidies through various funds. "It's not necessary for the scheme to wait for the budget from the Budget Bureau alone," she said.

Kriangsak said medical staff should receive better remuneration and those assigned to work in remote areas should get extra allowances. "It is a motivation to encourage medical staff to work in remote areas," he said.

Jon recommended a short-term measure for the Bt30 per visit scheme.

"For the short term, the Public Health Ministry should not exert its control over the National Health Security Office so it can represent people - not the Public Health Ministry," he said.