Official reassurance over locations for dialysis

This is despite the Private Hospital Association recommending its members not to sign new contracts, because payment from the government Bt1,500 a session is considered too low.

Prateep Tanakitcharoen said the service provided would be sufficient because some private hospitals and clinics had joined the Public Health Ministry scheme.

They receive a Bt1,000 subsidy from the office and existing patients pay Bt500. The office will pay the entire fee for new patients.

On Wednesday, the ministry and the Friends of Kidney Patients' Club will discuss where the treatment can be had and ensuring access for patients, a source said yesterday.

The club will manage existing dialysis machines so they are given maximum use. The service is expected to cover the whole country in three to six months.

Club chairman Subin Noksakul said it would help explain the scheme to patients and would push for their care to become national policy.