New Health panel to help make haemodialysis more affordable

This move came after the president of the Private Hospitals Association, Dr Auechart Kanchanapitak, and his secretary Dr Chalerm Harnpanich, issued a letter on September 2 advising private hospitals to not sign a deal with the National Health Security Office (NHSO).

Last year, the NHSO launched its cheaper haemodialysis scheme under which hospitals are given a Bt1,000 subsidy, while patients pay Bt500. The scheme is set to start on October 1.

Auechart argues that if the price is reduced to Bt1,500 from Bt1,900, it would affect the quality of the treatment and ultimately harm patients.

However, Chaovarat said after discussions with the NHSO and the Kidney Foundation of Thailand, he learned that the Bt1,500 reimbursement was reasonable and that private hospitals should step up because the number of kidney patients in the country is expected to rise.

"I know they have to shoulder the financial burden, but they should also consider the humanitarian side instead of just profit," he said.

At present, there are 18,000 kidney patients across the country of whom 6,792 are registered under the universal healthcare scheme for subsidised haemodialysis treatment.

Subin Noksakul, the chairman of the Friends of Kidney Patients Club, said 160 of the 200 private hospitals nationwide have already signed up with the NHSO.

However, Chaovarat said the committee, which comprises of representative from the Public Health Ministry, NHSO and the Kidney Foundation of Thailand, will seek ways to give patients easy access to the treatment.

As an initial measure, the Kidney Foundation will try and make the use of haemodialysis devices more efficient and expects the service to be available across the country within six months, he added.