Several universal healthcare (“gold card”) patients have been transferred from Mongkutwattana Hospital to alternative facilities after reports surfaced of the hospital charging 4,000 baht for CT scans following its suspension of outpatient services under the national healthcare scheme.
Dr Thanasak Thambanthu, director of National Health Security Office (NHSO) Region 13 (Bangkok), said Mongkutwattana Hospital officially stopped providing outpatient care under the 30-baht universal coverage scheme on Oct 16.
To minimise the impact on registered patients, the NHSO had established a service point at the Jumbotel Hotel in front of the hospital to provide guidance, facilitate transfers to other hospitals, issue temporary entitlement certificates, and handle complaints.
Between Oct 16 and 25, a total of 776 affected patients received assistance at the service point.
Dr Thanasak said that the NHSO has been unable to access necessary patient data, such as appointment schedules and contact details, to coordinate transfers due to the hospital’s lack of integration with the national Health Link database.
All medical records remain stored within the hospital’s internal HIS system, and patients requesting their medical history must wait up to seven days — a delay that could seriously affect those requiring ongoing treatment or prescription refills.
“These operational barriers have complicated patient transfers, even though the hospital management has expressed willingness to cooperate,” Dr Thanasak said. “We urge the hospital to expedite the release of patient records to facilitate timely treatment.”