Hospital accused of charging diarrhoea patient B30,000

Hospital accused of charging diarrhoea patient B30,000

Executives of the Internal Trade Department discuss measures to control prices at private hospitals at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi province in December last year. (Photo from the Commerce Ministry)
Executives of the Internal Trade Department discuss measures to control prices at private hospitals at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi province in December last year. (Photo from the Commerce Ministry)

The Internal Trade Department has filed a complaint with police against a private hospital that allegedly overcharged a diarrhoea patient to the tune of 30,000 baht.

Media reported that the department considered the treatment price was unrealistically high, and that unnecessary treatments and services were ordered for the patient.

The hospital, whose name was withheld, now faces prosecution for violating Section 29 of the Act on Prices of Goods and Services. The section prohibits operators from imposing prices both too low and too high. The offence carries a jail term of seven years and/or a fine of up to 140,000 baht.

The department has posted what it considers reasonable prices for consumer medicines on its website,  www.dit.go.th. It plans to add reasonable prices for medical supplies and services in the next few months.

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