Bangkok: Dr. Chavalit Lertbusayanukul, a professor at the Cancer Center at Chulalongkorn Hospital, has expressed strong criticism regarding the management of the Social Security Fund, which recently reported a profit exceeding 80 billion baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Chavalit questioned the "misguided pride" of the fund's management, highlighting that the actual return on this profit was less than 3%, a figure he deemed ordinary and unworthy of a grand press announcement. He emphasized the paradox within the public health system where individuals with universal healthcare can access comprehensive cancer treatment under the "Cancer Anywhere" policy, while those with regular insurance are restricted to specific hospitals under the "SSO Cancer Care" program, which he indicated is of lower quality.
Dr. Chavalit further pointed out that cancer patients often face challenges accessing treatment at well-equipped facilities, likening the process to "begging for charity," despite their entitlement. This situation has led some individuals to quit their jobs, forgoing their social security benefits in favor of the universal healthcare scheme or civil servant family benefits, prompting questions about the value of their lifetime contributions.
He urged the Social Security Board to prioritize the "life accounts" of insured individuals over financial figures. Dr. Chavalit stressed the importance of enhancing healthcare rights to a level that respects the dignity of contributors, suggesting that achieving equality with the universal healthcare scheme should precede any celebration of profits. He concluded that taking pride in financial figures while delivering inferior care to paying members reflects "misplaced" pride.