More than 350 private hospitals in Thailand have signed on to a government initiative to offer patients the option of buying medicines from external sources, according to the Department of Internal Trade.
The initiative aims to benefit Thais and expatriates, and is anticipated to reduce living costs by 32.4 billion baht, said Wittayakorn Maneenetr, director-general of the department, part of the Ministry of Commerce.
The ‘Happy Body, Happy Wallet’ programme is meant to enhance consumer choice by allowing patients to compare prices for medicines and supplies outside private hospitals, he said on Tuesday after meeting with hospital and Ministry of Public Health executives.
According to the guidelines, patients wishing to purchase medicines externally must inform their doctors during the consultation. The doctor then provides a prescription before payment is made at the hospital counter.
A total of 354 hospitals from nine private hospital groups nationwide plan to participate in the programme.
They include Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), the country’s largest operator with more than 50 branches under the Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej, BNH, Phyathai and Paolo groups. Other participants are Thonburi Hospital, BPK Hospital Group, Bangkok Chain Hospital (Kasemrad Hospital), Ramkhamhaeng-Vibharam Hospital, Principal Healthcare Company, Navaminthra Hospital, Synphaet Hospital and Chularat Hospital Group.
The Department of Internal Trade plans to meet on Friday with the Pharmacy Association to work out details of the registration process. There are 20,099 pharmacies in Thailand, with 19,206 of them (93%) employing full-time licensed pharmacists.
Mr Wittayakorn said the project would cover about 90% of all medicines, including treatments for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, along with essential medical supplies. The scheme does not cover medicines for more severe or critical illnesses that require continued treatment, such as heart disease and cancer therapies.
For the next phase, he said the department intends to assess the pricing structures of medicines to ensure fairness and transparency in their cost management practices.
‘This initiative is anticipated to reduce consumers’ expenses by 32.4 billion baht and ease overcrowding in public hospitals,’ said Mr Wittayakorn.
Paiboon Eksaengsri, president of the Private Hospital Association, said the collaboration would empower patients to buy medicines with a doctor’s prescription from a pharmacy of their choice.
Outpatients at private hospitals frequently complain about excessive markups, often ranging from 50% to 100% over what outside pharmacies charge. Many hospitals do not carry generic drug alternatives, though doctors will offer advice if asked.
Mr Paiboon said the high prices of medicines are influenced by various factors. For private hospitals, this includes their investments in land, medical equipment, management and marketing expenses, as they lack government subsidies.
Private hospitals typically operate with an average profit margin of 10%, he said.
He expressed concern about quality control for people buying medicines outside of hospitals, pushing for stringent oversight of pharmacies to prevent the distribution of substandard or counterfeit medications.