The National Health Security Office (NHSO) will be allocated up to Bt129.28 billion for its operations in next fiscal year, which kicks off from October 1. With a bigger budget, NHSO should be able to increase its flat per-head subsidy for the universal healthcare scheme from Bt2,401 a year to Bt2,546. This subsidy would also include health promotion and disease prevention.
Of this extra Bt39.25-per-head budget, Bt2.25 per head would be spent on making dentures for those over the age of 60, and the remainder on promoting dental health among the population, especially children under the age of 12.
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said extra funds, such as Bt2.997 billion to provide anti-viral drugs to 152,000 HIV/Aids patients; Bt3.226 billion to take care of 16,315 patients with chronic kidney disease; Bt630 million for diabetes and high-blood pressure sufferers; and Bt203 million for 119,317 mentally ill people.
"Those with kidney disease can now seek kidney transplant and dialysis under the universal health scheme," he added.