Government Start Control Private Hospital’s Drugs, Medical Supply and Service Price Today Onwards.
30-5-2019 –Central Committee on Product and Service Prices had announced the rule of notification on prices of medicines, medical supplies, and others effective today onwards.
The announcement of the rule will be informed to hospitals to be enforced to report in return about the price within 45 days.The committee will have the price put into consult later on, after it 1,000 % of spread found between the price of medical factors in hospital and the common price.
Mr. Wichai Phokhanakit, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade revealed that the announcement No. 52 BC 2562 regarding the price notification formulation and conditions regarding the sale of medicines, medical supplies, medical treatment fees medical service and other services of hospital was already announced. Deputy Minister of Commerce as the chairperson of Central Committee on Product and Service Prices had signed on May 29,2019 and it will begin effective today onwards (May 30, 2019).
Ensuring that the measures will help take care of consumers fairly in accessing to private hospitals.
Under the announcement, private hospitals, manufacturers, importers, distributors must inform the purchase price – selling price of medicines, medical supplies, service fees according to the list of UCEP (Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients).
The preliminary list comprised of 3,892 items and it will expand to cover drug items in the future, according to Thai Drug information Code List and Thai Medicines Terminology – (TMT) or Thai standard drug codes.
There are 32,000 pharmaceutical in the account list, 868 medical supplies and 5,286 medical fees, and also requiring hospitals must notify the department to know when they made any change of drug prices within 15 days before adjusting the price. If anyone not informing the purchase price – the selling price as announced, they will be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht or both and a fine of not more than 2,000 baht per day throughout the violation or until notified. Which the Department has made a letter to informed 353 hospitals and related agencies
If the hospitals not completely notify the price to the department within 45 days, will be punished according to what stipulated in the law.
From the notification Give the time to notify the purchase price within 45 days, return to the department if not informed, there will be a penalty as required by law After receiving all the information, the Department will publish it on the Department’s website. And private hospitals must show the QR Code to allow people to easily access information And will call for an exorbitant price Or think too much profit to inquire for reasons too
The results of the information examination on drug prices found that in some private hospitals, there is a difference between the purchase price and the selling price from 29.33% to the maximum of 8,766.79% or the difference in the price from 10.83 baht to the maximum of 28,862 baht and has a profit ranging from 47.73% to the maximum of 16,566.67%.
The examples of drugs are such as S_DOPROCT, the drug price 17 baht, selling price in average 148 baht, selling in maximum price at 303 baht, medicine ORFARIN, drug price 2 baht, selling price in average 13.75 baht, maximum price selling at 36 baht, XANDASE drug price 3 baht, average selling 6 baht, maximum price 20 baht, AMPHOTERICIN-B, drug price 452 baht, selling price in average 937 baht, selling in maximum price 2,200 baht, etc.
After receiving all the information, the Department will publish it on the Department’s website and private hospitals must show the QR Code to allow people to easily access information and call for an exorbitant price or taking too much profit to inquire reasons.
The results of the examination of information for drug prices Found that some private hospitals There is a difference between the purchase price and the selling price from 29.33% to the maximum of 8,766.79% or the difference in the price from 10.83 baht to the maximum of 28,862 baht and has a profit ranging from 47.73% to the maximum of 16,566.67% with examples of drugs such as S_DOPROCT, drug price 17 baht Selling average 148 baht, selling at 303 baht, medicine ORFARIN, drug price 2 baht, selling an average of 13.75 baht, maximum 36 baht, XANDASE drug, 3 baht, average selling 6 baht, maximum 20 baht, drug AMPHOTERICIN-B, drug price 452 baht, selling average 937 baht, selling maximum 2,200 baht the early
However, under the announcement, prescription drugs requiring the private hospital to evaluate the initial treatment for the patient to know and must inform the price of medicines, medical supplies and medical service fees to the patient before selling or serving when the patient requests.
In the distribution of drugs for outpatients requiring the hospital to issue a prescription according to the standard of medical practice and must provide price notification to let patient know in advance.
The prescription at least must contain generic drug names, trade name, dosage form, size or quantity, number of methods, duration of use, and the drug price statement must contain the name of the drug according to the prescription and the unit price. If not complying, there will be a penalty of not more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine not exceeding 100,000 baht or both.
In addition, a sub-committee was appointed in the central and provincial areas to consider the decision. In the case of complaints about medical care services that are more than necessary or the charge of unreasonably high medical care, such as abdominal pain, the price of thirty thousand baht or headaches, but the service provides both eye examination, pulse measurement, tongue test, TC scan, or a leaning charge from many medical services, etc.
When consumers found that the price is considered unreasonably high and the complaint came and found that it was wrong. The provider will be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 7 years, a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht or both
