Decision on Hua Hin Hospital “dual pricing” case set for next week

Next week, Thai authorities will announce the outcome of the highly anticipated “dual pricing” case where a Dutch expat claims he was overcharged for his cancer treatment at Hua Hin Hospital. Erwin Buse, who filed the anti-discrimination suit two years ago, told ASEAN Now that the case was officially handed over to judges this week and a decision on the case will be announced next Tuesday.

Erwin, a goat herder with his wife in Prachuap Khiri Khan, claims he paid rates for his cancer treatment that were more than what Thai nationals were charged at Hua Hin Hospital. In the lawsuit filed with the Administrative Court in Phetchaburi, Erwin named the Public Health Ministry and Public Health Minister Anutin Charvirakul.

While the cancer treatments were only a few hundred baht each time, according to ASEAN Now, Erwin says the fact that he was charged higher fees than Thai residents for medical care is unconstitutional.

Back in September 2019, the Thai government set a multi-tier pricing system for services at public hospitals in Thailand. Under the guidelines, foreigners who receive medical treatment or services at public hospitals pay more than Thais or those from neighbouring countries for the same services. But the price difference between Thais and foreigners for the same medical services reportedly start to climb significantly for expats on non-immigrant visas, and even more so for international tourists and retirees.

SOURCE: ASEAN Now