Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed the Public Health and Commerce ministries on Tuesday to set standard median prices for medical care and medicines at private hospitals.
The move follows complaints about overpriced services and drugs at some hospitals.
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Median prices for medical care and medicines offered at private hospitals should meet international standards especially since Thailand is preparing to join the Asean Economic Community (AEC) at the end of this year, Gen Prayut told the cabinet meeting Tuesday. The prime minister told the ministries to set standard prices for every type of medical treatment and all classes of medicines used by them, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.
Gen Prayut also wanted the ministries to provide explanations as to why only specific drugs are needed for certain treatments, Maj Gen Sansern said.
Most importantly, the premier wanted the ministries to ensure the difference in prices quoted by private and state-run hospitals for the same treatment must not be excessive, Maj Gen Sansern said.
After the cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said that although he had instructed the Public Health Ministry's legal team to look into complaints about excessive medical bills at private hospitals, he did not want to step in to impose tighter controls on private hospitals.
He said he was concerned that if private hospitals overcharge patients — especially foreigners — it could adversely affect the country's aim to become a healthcare hub.
Many foreigners come to Thailand to visit doctors because prices are cheaper than anywhere else while the quality of treatment is good, Gen Prayut said.
"The complaints about private hospitals being too pricey are likely to be upheld, but it would be impossible to make healthcare service rates at private hospitals the same as those offered at state hospitals," Gen Prayut said.
Although there is a specific law allowing private hospitals to charge patients at higher rates than state hospitals, it would be unacceptable if the price difference, for instance, was more than seven or eight times higher, he said.
Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said a meeting with other agencies, including the Commerce Ministry, the Medical Council and the Consumer Protection Board, will be held on Friday to discuss prices.
