Freeze on subsidies to hit hospitals in Thailand
23-Sep-14, Bangkok Post
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is lowering its public health targets and freezing hospital subsidies for the next fiscal year after the government cut the universal healthcare budget.
At the NHSO's board meeting yesterday, chaired by newly appointed Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin, officials said the funding gap would put a crunch on the agency and on state-owned hospitals, but insisted patients would not be affected.
"This fiscal year will be fairly tough," said Kanit Sangsubhan, an NHSO board member and director of the Fiscal Policy Research Institute.
The cut to the universal healthcare budget could affect state-owned hospitals, which may need to shift funds from other areas, deputy permanent secretary for health Songyos Chaichana said.