The National Health Security Office (NHSO) will manage the patient database and payments for members of the health welfare service fund for civil servants starting from October.
The NHSO signed a memorandum of understanding with the Comptroller-General's Department (CGD) yesterday to function as a centre to manage civil servants' health information and dispense payments to claimants under their scheme.
At present, hospitals that treat government officials must report information about the treatments directly to the CGD for reimbursements.
From Oct 1, claims and information on treatments will be filed with the NHSO.
Earlier, NHSO secretary-general Winai Sawasdivorn said the government had asked his office to expand its role to serve as a clearing house and health information centre.
The centre would reimburse medical fees to hospitals to cover patients in the three healthcare systems _ the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme, the social security fund and the health welfare fund for civil servants.
The NHSO is the operator of the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme.
Comptroller-General Manas Jamveha said that with the NHSO acting as the clearing house, it will be more convenient for hospital staff to send claims for treatment costs.
Mr Manas also said the welfare of government officials will not be adversely affected by the NHSO taking care of reimbursements. The Civil Servants Medical Benefit Scheme covers over 5 million government officials.
Dr Winai said the NHSO would also develop a national health financing information system and analyse officials' requests for medical services for greater working efficiency. From October last year to Feb 21 the CGD disbursed about 22 billion baht to pay for the medical treatment of government officials.
