The Commerce Ministry is set to issue an official announcement requiring private hospitals to show the price tags for medicine, medical supplies and medical service charges so that consumers can be aware of prices before deciding to use services.
Commerce permanent secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit, who chaired the first meeting of the subcommittee handling supervisory measures for medicines, medical supplies and medical services, said an announcement on price tags is likely next week.
"The price tags must be easily visible and understandable," he said. "They may start with 1,000 items in the initial period."
According to Mr Boonyarit, the meeting Thursday agreed to set up a working group to study the production costs of medicines and medical services.
The working group, chaired by the director-general of the Internal Trade Department, is required to submit the study within 60 days, or by late March.
Mr Boonyarit said private hospitals' production and operating costs vary based on their size and grade.
He said the meeting agreed that private hospitals should disclose and provide clear details of medical service charges, as well as additional charges if hospitals detect other diseases later on.
The hospitals should also separate medical charges from other additional charges such as room rates, he said.
The subcommittee, which includes representatives from the Office of Insurance Commission, the Commerce Ministry, the Thai Life Assurance Association, the Thai General Insurance Association, consumer protection organisations and private hospitals, agreed to let patients at private hospitals buy medicine from drugstores using prescriptions given by doctors.
The Health Service Support Department has accepted the decision and will call a meeting of the committee supervising the hospitals and health service operators before making further announcements.
On Jan 22, the cabinet approved the Commerce Ministry's proposal to put medical and healthcare expenses on the state price control list as part of efforts to deal with price gouging amid growing concerns over the high cost of private medical care.
The proposal was endorsed by the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services in line with the 1999 Prices of Goods and Services Act, which demands a review of goods and services prices every two years.