Prayut assures ‘B30 gold card’ will stay

The Universal Healthcare Coverage (UC) scheme, or “30-baht gold card”, will not be revoked despite an amendment to the national health security law, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted.

He assured people they can continue to enjoy health benefits under the gold card scheme although the National Health Security Act has been amended.

Gen Prayut was speaking after a cabinet meeting at Government House yesterday.

His comments came after the law amendment drew fierce opposition from health advocates, resulting in a botched public hearing in Khon Kaen on Sunday.

“Who said I will abolish the scheme? How would I do such a thing? How could those lying politicians twist the truth? I have insisted so many times I won’t revoke the scheme,” he said.

Gen Prayut also asked the media to help publicise the news to assure the public the scheme would not be scrapped.

He said the government can now increase the maximum rate of medical expenses under the UC scheme to 3,100 baht.

Responding to a query over whether the rate can be increased to more than 3,100 baht, Gen Prayut said the government had to focus on which part of the existing measures can be adjusted for maximum benefit for the public.

Meanwhile, Nimit Tienudom, president of the Aids Access Foundation, threatened yesterday that health activists would walk out of the public hearing on the amendment today if “unnecessary force” was deployed to the forum.

Mr Nimit said only officials patrolling to provide security for attendees should be allowed at the last public hearing scheduled to be held today at Centra by Centara Hotel, located at the Government Complex in the Chaeng Watthana area.

He was speaking after meeting with Poldej Pinprateep, secretary-general of the National Health Commission Office (NCHO), who chairs a panel supervising the public hearing, at the agency yesterday.

Mr Nimit also called on the panel to not jump to conclusions during the public hearing.

The panel must weigh all of the pros and cons related to the various solutions suggested, he said.

Mr Nimit also urged the NHCO not to propose all comments to a committee overseeing the revision of the National Health Security Act, adding opposition comments must be secluded and proposed to a meeting of the National Health Assembly.