KHON KAEN: A planned hearing on a revised national health security bill was called off on Saturday after opponents who say the changes will be bad for the public seized the stage.
More than 200 opponents showed up at Avani Khon Kaen & Convention Centre, the venue of the hearing, on Saturday morning. They seized the stage and took turns criticising the draft bill, which they said was unfair and failed to include meaningful input from the public.
The protesters, gathered under the umbrella of the so-called Northeastern Health Security Lovers Network, were joined by members of the "gold card" universal coverage (UC) scheme, which offers mostly free hospital treatment.
Soldiers, police and local officials were deployed to the venue to maintain peace and order.
After a standoff lasting six hours, and consultations with the local branch of the Internal Security Operations Command and others, organisers agreed to scrap the hearing to prevent a possible untoward incident.
Dr Marut Jirasetsiri, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry panel overseeing the amendments, said organisers would attempt to arrange a new hearing in Khon Kaen, while the next hearing in Bangkok, scheduled by the end of this month, would be held as planned.
“We will have to hold another round of meetings to find a solution to what is happening here. The situation in Khon Kaen is more tense than other regions," he said. "The organising panel had to scrap the hearing, which is the third out of four hearings.
"We resolved not to take action against the opponents. We will take into consideration all viewpoints from all hearings."
People could also express their views on the revised draft via an online hearing, he added.
The protesters expressed delight after learning that the hearing had been scrapped. They said opponents would also make their views known at the next hearing in Bangkok.
The government has said that the revisions are intended to provide better benefits to people and tackle the problems the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has faced in making the UC scheme more sustainable financially.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn has insisted that people would continue to enjoy medical benefits under their “gold cards”.
The UC scheme was initiated by the Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2002 for people who are neither Social Security members nor government employees, to ensure they have access to healthcare. However, the service has struggled due to a lack of government investment.
Health insurance advocates say the amendments will benefit health service providers more than the public.
Critics also say the committee looking into the revisions has little public representation. Of the 26 members, 24 are health service providers and government officials, with just two representatives from civil society.
Protesters take over the stage to vent their anger at the lack of public input into the new health bill. (Photo by Jakkrapan Nathanri)
A hotel staffer removes tables from the hall where the health bill hearing was called off. (Photo by Jakkrapan Nathanri)