The Treasury Department looks set to fix residential unit prices of its initial complex for the elderly, its chief says, in an attempt to resume the project after a delay the past few years.
Even though a joint committee of the Treasury Department and Ramathibodi Hospital has been set up to identify details for the elderly complex project, particularly unit prices and healthcare expenses, the process had been sidelined as the hospital has not finalised healthcare charges, said Amnuay Preemonwong, director-general of the department.
Residents are expected to have several options for coverage, he said. One option is residents must pay all medical expenses themselves, but they will get first priority for treatment.
The department initiated the senior complex, which will be in the public-private partnership (PPP) category, in accordance with the government's policy to prepare for an aged society. A report conducted by the Fiscal Policy Office forecast those aged 60 and older will account for 20% of the population in 2025, up from 14% in 2015.
The project, which aims to be a prototype for the government's other senior complexes, will be situated on 72 state plots in Bang Phli district in Samut Prakan province.
According to the plan, the department will charge a rental fee of one baht per square wah per month, plus a management fee of two times of the annual rental fee.
The project will be divided into three zones -- a hospital on 32 rai, a senior housing zone on 20 rai and a nursing home on 10 rai -- plus a green area.
Mr Amnuay said the housing zone will comprise 1,000 units sized 30-55 square metres.
People aged 55 and older are eligible to rent residential units for 30 years or until death, whichever comes first, he said.
Apart from rent and management fees, tenants are liable for 10,000 baht monthly payment for common area fees, meals and healthcare expenses.
The complex targets middle- to high-income elderly Thais, said Mr Amnuay.
How much money will be paid back to residents or their heirs is another detail that needs to be considered if residents voluntarily leave the project or die, he said.
The department could propose private sector investors in the project set up a fund to buy back the residential units for resale to other potential residents, Mr Amnuay said.