Bangkok:The Ministry of Public Health and the National Health Security Office are working to clear 2.8 billion baht in deferred payments to ensure that public services remain unaffected and hospitals maintain adequate liquidity.
According to Thai News Agency, the government is urgently addressing the liquidity issues faced by hospitals. The Ministry of Public Health and the National Health Security Office are expediting the payment of 2,812 million baht to 894 hospitals for medical expenses while managing advance funds of 4,299 million baht. This initiative is emphasized to not compromise public healthcare services.
Ms. Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, stated that under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's leadership, the government prioritizes the continuity of public health services. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) have agreed on budget management to expedite payments for delayed medical services totaling over 2.8 billion baht. They also plan to manage an additional 4,299 million baht in advance payments while considering hospital liquidity needs.
Ms. Lalida explained that after discussions and verification, both agencies have aligned their operational guidelines with the Joint Financial Management Committee's resolution. The NHSO will expedite reimbursements for case reimbursement, chronic kidney failure services, and health promotion and disease prevention services. The Ministry of Public Health will monitor these payments to ensure hospitals receive funds promptly. For the 4,299 million baht advance payment, a plan to utilize funds from the fiscal year 2026 and address any remaining differences in fiscal year 2027 has been established.
Additionally, should the budget for specific service cases be insufficient in fiscal year 2026, the NHSO will use the 2027 budget to ensure continuous reimbursement to hospitals. Ms. Lalida emphasized the importance of hospital liquidity for patient care readiness and noted that while the payment process is expedited, it is not confirmed that all hospitals have received payments. The government will continue to monitor the process to ensure that hospitals can provide continuous medical care to the public.