BANGKOK (NNT) - The government is to improve the Gold-Card medical scheme by allowing cardholders to receive medical care at any registered clinic in their district.


Spokesperson for the PM’s office, Mr. Anucha Burapachaisri announced today that PM General Prayut Chan-O-Cha has ordered the Ministry of Public Health to improve the gold-card scheme in accordance with the government’s national medical service development plan. Improvements in the scheme will be launched on the 1st of November this year. Initially, it will permit cardholders in Bangkok to receive medical services at any clinic registered with the scheme in their district, instead of only the clinic they are registered with.


In addition, cardholders can also make an appointment via the Paotang application that has been upgraded by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) and KrungThai bank. Appointments will be taken first for diabetic and high blood-pressure patients, but will expand to include other patients’ needs soon after.


Cardholders who are diagnosed with severe symptoms and need to be admitted to a hospital, will no longer need a transfer as NHSO has created an information server connecting clinics and hospitals.


And if cardholders want to change their clinic, there won’t be a 15 day delay. The patients can immediately see the doctor they want at the clinic. So any patients who need to relocate will have nothing to be worried about as they can change the clinic online and receive service immediately.


Moreover, patients with cancer are now able to access medical care at a suitable hospital.


From now on, the NHSO will send information on patients who are diagnosed with cancer to a hospital that is capable of treating each kind of cancer. The patients will also no longer be subjected to lengthy queues.

https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/d...01026104436715