Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong said on Wednesday he was interested in a proposal for a special committee to oversee fees charged by private hospitals but that such controls must be fair to both patients and hospital management.
He was responding to a proposal submitted by the Thai Medical Error Network as part of a campaign against "overcharging" by private hospitals.
Mr Yongyuth said it was an interesting idea. Such a panel could look into policies regarding medical treatment fees and the development of private hospital services.
The government was gathering information from all interested parties. The Ministry of Public Health was considering treatment methods and the Ministry of Commerce was examining treatment fees, so that fairness could be assured for all, the deputy prime minister said.
Mr Yongyuth dismissed the concern that high fees at private hospitals discouraged foreign patients. He said foreigners continued to arrive in Thailand for medical services.
The Thai Medical Error Network petition, with 33,000 signatures, was presented to the government on Tuesday.