Thailand’s Universal Healthcare adds Smart ID tech

5 Comments

1. 

   Jesus Monroe

   Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 11:16 am

   Expats?

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     Issan John

     Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 3:10 pm

     Expats don’t have Thai ID cards so they can’t have the new “smart” Thai ID cards this report is about – it’s just a normal-style Thai ID card, but with a chip that makes it more secure as it has biometric data (fingerprints, etc).

     … nor can expats have Thai “gold cards” entitling them to universal health care (more generally known as “yellow cards”) and the 30 baht scheme.

     If you’re working and paying tax here you’re covered at government hospitals by your tax social security scheme, just as Thais are.

     If not you can register at your local clinic (at sub-district level), local hospital (district level) and city / provincial hospital and you’ll get a hospital card and hospital number (one for the district hospital, one for the city / provincial hospital) which will save you having to register and give any details whenever you go to the hospital. You just show your hospital registration card at A&E, or put it in the tray for out patient treatment, whatever the local system is, in exactly the same way that Thais do with their ID cards; the only difference may be that if they don’t know you they may ask for your passport as verification – since registering, I’ve never been asked, even when admitted to the main city / provincial hospital for a few days.

     It’s actually a very efficient system, despite what some who’ve never used it will tell you. When we moved a few years ago, for example, the Bangkok International Hospital Group couldn’t access any medical records at one of their hospitals from another branch, so we had to take all our records with us, printed out, and start from scratch at the new branch (they may have improved their system since, I don’t know), while all my records at my local/district hospital are immediately available on-line at the city/provincial hospital and vice-versa.

     You pay exactly the same prices that a Thai would if they’re not covered by the Social Care or Universal Health Care systems, and are treated in exactly the same way they would be – joining the queue if you’re not a priority, and triaged to the front if you are (as I have been on a couple of occasions). The ambience may not be quite the same as at an “international” hospital, but in my experience of both (not only for myself) the treatment is every bit as good (at least the treatment I’ve needed so far), just as prompt, and the “VIP” rooms on a par but a fraction of the price although they’re not always available – I emphasise, though, that’s only my personal experience and it probably varies depending on the medical issue.

     Reply
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       Jesus Monroe

       Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 6:23 pm

       Thank you Issan your a very kind man to bring me up to date. Much appreciated.

       Reply
2. 

   Issan John

   Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 3:16 pm

   This suggests that Thailand may be extending the Universal Healthcare Scheme from just coverage at their local hospital (plus referrals to other main hospitals) to full coverage at any hospital, with no need for a referral.

   Hopefully (for Thais) that’s the case as if so it will be a major step forward for Thais under the yellow card scheme, but I’m far from sure that’s correct.

   Reply
3. 

   Johan Ubel

   Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 8:47 pm

   If they also would implement a fingerprint sensor on the card as the biometric smart cards do, all data on the chip är proven to belong to the person. If not, all places where you need to identify yourself, all clinics/administration facilities need the same kind of fingerprint reader and you still cannot identify yourself on distance, from home or from wherever.

   Reply