Foreign worker healthcare costs soar to 92 billion baht in 2024
The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) recently stood by its figures regarding healthcare costs for foreign workers, stating that the data was sourced from the Ministry of Public Health.
According to NESDC’s report, there has been a notable rise in healthcare demand from foreign patients, particularly in border areas, reaching a record 3.8 million healthcare visits in the fiscal year 2024.
This increase in healthcare visits reportedly cost the government approximately 92 billion baht (US$2.68 billion), a significant rise from past years. However, only 3.3% of this amount was reimbursed, placing a substantial financial strain on local hospitals.
Despite this, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin expressed doubts about the accuracy of this cost, suggesting that the actual expenditure for healthcare services to foreign workers, including those at the border, was closer to 2 billion baht (US$5 million).
Somsak attributed the discrepancy to potential errors in data entry and reporting.
The NESDC clarified that the data concerning foreign workers in the public health system, especially in border regions, was provided by the Public Health Ministry’s Secretariat Office in both document and digital formats.
This data encompassed the number of foreign workers using healthcare services, categorised by nationality, healthcare rights, and medical records.
Additional information included the number of medical staff and the costs of healthcare services, distinguishing between those costs collected and uncollected from 2017 to 2024, reported Bangkok Post.
For the fiscal year 2024, total healthcare expenses for foreign workers across 31 border provinces amounted to 95.2 billion baht (US$2.78 billion), with 92 billion baht (US$2.68 billion) reportedly subsidised.
Although the Division of Health Economics and Health Security indicated on February 28 that it would provide updated data, the NESDC maintained that its report adhered to academic standards.
In similar news, the Ministry of Public Health has been advised to enhance healthcare support in temporary shelters, incorporating permanent healthcare facilities and refugee health volunteers.
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