Patients with kidney problems say the Social Security Office (SSO) has failed to cover their medical expenses, leaving them in debt.
Thanapol Dokkaew, chairman of the Kidney Association of Thailand, said patients registered with the SSO had received poor service due to the office's sluggish reimbursement process.
Several patients with kidney problems were experiencing debt problems after borrowing money from banks and even loan sharks due to the SSO's late medical bill payments. The SSO provides 1,500 baht for each dialysis, not exceeding 20,000 baht a month. Patients with chronic kidney disease need dialysis three times a week or 12 times a month, which costs over 20,000 baht a month when including medical equipment charges of 4,000 baht.
Makkamon Silanuparb of the SSO's Medical Service System Management Bureau, said patients should submit claims promptly if they want to avoid delays. He did not comment on the cause of the hold-ups.