Govt denies it will scrap gold card scheme

Govt denies it will scrap gold card scheme

The government spokesman has dismissed as totally groundless speculation on social media that the gold card health insurance scheme run by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) will be scrapped because of budget constraints.

Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said not only are the reports untrue, the Public Health Ministry and NHSO plan to provide additional healthcare services to gold card holders.

He said the Budget Bureau will allocate the NHSO 128.5 billion baht from the 2018 budget, or 3,197.32 baht per head, an rise of about 87.75 baht per head from 2017.  The budget allocation for the scheme had been on the rise for the past two or three years.

Cardholders will be provided with three additional services - checkups for people at risk of colon cancer, vaccination against cervical cancer, and medical treatment in an emergency, Lt Gen Sansern said.

He asked people not to believe everything they see in the media or social media without double checking against other sources. Reports on social media in particular were often distorted

For example, social media suggested that while people were distracted by news of the search for Phra Dhammajayo, the government had cut the allocation for the gold card scheme, which was not true.

The Public Health Ministry and the NHSO will make sure the healthcare budget is effectively used and the services are not compromised, the spokesman said.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (3)