A number of patients have complained of overcharging at private hospitals and asked the department to investigate. Some said hospitals were charging double what prescriptions cost elsewhere.

Department deputy director-general Vatcharee Vimooktayon said its drug-price committee was looking into the complaints.

The Commerce Ministry is responsible for the pricing of generic drugs while the Public Health Ministry is responsible for the pricing of imported medicines and some special generic drugs.

The posting of prices will inform patients what they will likely pay for prescriptions, she said.

Vatcharee said while private hospitals were entitled to set their own service fees they were not allowed to charge "arbitrary" prices for medicines.

One complaint claimed a hospital charged Bt1,500 for drugs that could be purchased elsewhere for Bt800. The hospital added a service fee on top of the prescription charge.

The department and the Public Health Ministry will together monitor imported medicines sold by private hospitals, she said.

Vatcharee said a posted price list would allow patients to decide if they wished to continue treatment at a hospital.

"Under the Retail Price Act consumers have a right to know the price of each product, including medicine, before purchase," she said.

 Overcharging is subject to a maximum fine of Bt10,000.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation