The state needs to clearly define what constitutes critical emergency cases under the free emergency care scheme before asking private hospital operators to cooperate, says Chalerm Harnphanich, president of the Private Hospital Association.
Dr Chalerm said the association is ready to work with the government healthcare scheme to improve the emergency care system. "But they must come up with a solid idea and clear solutions before asking for help from the private sector," he said.
The free emergency care scheme, introduced in 2012, offers emergency hospital services for any patient in critical condition at the nearest state or private hospital free of charge.
However, private hospital operators have raised concerns over the unclear classification for critical emergency cases eligible to be reimbursed under the government healthcare scheme, said Dr Chalerm.
In early May, a civic group filed a complaint with Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin to demand a solution to the problem that some emergency patients admitted to private hospitals were still being charged.
In response to the complaint, Dr Rajata set up a committee, which is also currently investigating overpriced medical fees at private institutions.
The committee has assigned the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand to classify what constitutes an emergency case, said Dr Rajata.
Critical emergency patients must not be charged within the first 72 hours after admission to a hospital, he added.
Meanwhile, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) announced this month that it will re-implement Section 7 of the 2002 NHSO Act to allow people in the universal care scheme to receive healthcare at facilities outside their registered health units in the event of an accident or emergency.
The NHSO will reimburse hospital operators for the medical costs. Implementation of Section 7 was initially suspended after the free emergency care scheme was introduced.
But private hospital operators prefer this system, rather than the Emergency Care Act, because the reimbursement system is based on negotiations and real costs, said NHSO spokesman Atthaporn Limpanyalert.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong said yesterday an investigation into the former public health permanent secretary Narong Sahametapat following internal conflicts in the ministry is now complete.
"Dr Narong's work style is incompatible with that of the public health minister, so some policies couldn't progress smoothly," he said, adding the report findings will now be submitted to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha for a decision.
