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Published on September 25, 2007

Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkla said the move would provide compensation to patients who face problems after treatment in hospitals and encourage patients not to sue doctors for medical malpractice.

The Act proposes a compensation panel be set up to look into complaints from patients.

Complaints would then be sent to another committee to evaluate the injury and approve compensation.

However, patients could still sue medical practitioners in the Criminal Court.

Mongkol said funding would come from government revenue and private hospitals.

The Cabinet still needs to consider the limits on payments and the kind of injuries the fund would provide compensation for.

Dr Pongpisut Kongudon-suk, director of the National Health System Research Institute, said the National Legislative Assembly would consider the bill once Cabinet approved it.

He believed the Act would reduce the number of legal disputes between patients and medical practitioners.

However, Mongkol feared the bill might not be approved during the government's term.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation