Cabinet Approved Add Medical Supplied & Service into Price Control List.
Cancelled Paper Tissues, Vehicle Battery, Plastics Beads and Sugar from the list.
22-1-2019–Cabinet today approved to add two more items to the price control list of Commerce Ministry, comprised of Medical Supplies (medical and medical supply segment), in order to have the regulating cover 1) The medical supplies which are the necessary material and equipment which are required in large amount for medical healing such as bandage, brine and injection needle., etc 2) Medical Doctor and Nursing services.
The decision was made according to the new list under the Product and Service Price Control List proposed by the Price Control Committee, Commerce Ministry, after Commerce Ministry was complained by many people about too high medical service they were charged by private hospitals.
The new list of the price control list will be effective from tomorrow on after the 2018 annual Product and Service Price Control list expired today (22 January 2019).
For the implementation, cabinet order to appoint the subcommittee to consider the price of medicine, medical equipment and medical doctor and nursing service, in order to join to consider the readiness of the relevant and consider to set appropriated measure, complied to The Product and Service Price Act B.E. 2542 (1999) to be fair for all parties, including consider the direction to sustainably solve the problem.
The subcommittee must be comprised of the representative from; Commerce Ministry, Public Health Ministry, Comptroller General’s Department, Private Hospital Association, Foundation for Consumers, National Health Committee Office, Thai Insurance Association, Disaster Insurance Association and economic expert.
Mr.Sonthirat Sonthijurawong Commerce Minister disclosed after cabinet meeting that The Product and Service Price Control Committee agree that after the medical supplied and medical services were added into the price control list, the representative of business sector and private sector must join in the joint committee to have brainstorming meeting to find the appropriate measures to be fair for all related parties.
“For the private medical service provider, don’t be panic or worried, because the committee will not control the maximum price of the price of medical supplies and medical doctor and nursing service.
There are only sugar that its maximum price was used to be controlled. Now Commerce Ministry and Public Health had already control the introduction price of the medical package service, but currently the inspection might never been made, it was also stipulated that the medicine price must not sell at the price higher than the price at its box. Then after cabinet approved to set the subcommittee, then the brainstormed meeting will be set to find together for the appropriate measures to solve the problem.”
The cabinet didn’t set that by when the subcommittee must be set and by when the solution of the measure must be announced.
By the way, Mr.Putthipong Poonakant Prime Minister Politics Adviser and Government Spokesman said “I believe that Mr.Sonthirat Commerce Ministry who in charge of this solution will be soon conduct the cabinet approval today to have the subcommittee meeting to find the measure for the solution soon.
Today cabinet also approve to cancel the following four products from the price control list ; Paper Tissues, Vehicle Battery, Plastics Beads and Sugar.
There are 52 items comprised of 46 products and 6 services contained in the price control list this year, compare with 50 items comprise of 45 products and 5 services in last year price control list, according to cabinet meeting result.
