Austrian mans body withhold for hospital bill

[elef]

MEDICAL BILLS : Govt vow to pay costs spurs chaos

Published on January 19, 2005

 

Delays, confusion as ministries, insurers refuse to pay up

 

There have been many commitments to help both Thai and foreign tsunami victims with their medical bills, but when it comes to actual reimbursement, hospitals and medical officials in the South can?t get their hands on the cash.

 

Uncertainty and chaos has reigned since the government pledged to foot the bill for all and sundry.

 

One private hospital went as far as to withhold the body of an Austrian man whose treatment cost about Bt200,000 because no one wanted to take responsibility for the bill. He was admitted to hospital on January 5 and died a few days later.

 

Despite repeated requests from the Austrian Embassy, the hospital held his body until last week, said acting chief health officer Molthira na Phatthalung.

 

It was only after long negotiations between the embassy and the hospital, with the health office providing assurances the money would be forthcoming, that the hospital released the body.

 

In total, six private hospitals in Phuket have outstanding bills of more than Bt15 million for their treatment of 1,200 tsunami victims, 223 of them from foreign countries.

 

The official said it was really confusing trying to find out who would actually pay the treatment costs and said for the time being it remained uncertain.

 

She said she first contacted Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula, who originally announced the government would shoulder all the bills. But the Interior Ministry could not help, and she was told to call the Public Health Ministry.

 

The Public Health Ministry told the official she would have to contact the National Health Security Office, but it is only paying the bills for Thai citizens eligible under the Bt30 healthcare scheme.

 

Still, it seems unlikely that entire treatment costs will be reimbursed in the case of private hospitals, said Dr Panya Keeratihatayakorn, a medical specialist with the National Health Security Office who visited Phuket yesterday.

 

?So who pays the rest?? asked Molthira.

 

The firm answer was: The patient.

 

The government?s announcement that it would cover all of the cost for treatment of both Thais and foreigners had become a prime source of chaos, Panya said.

 

Foreign health-insurance companies have delayed reimbursing their customers, and Thai patients who have already paid their bills are demanding their money back.

 

Molthira said she now pinned her hopes on the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which has pledged to dig Bt120 million out of its pockets to cover the cost of foreigners? medical bills.

 

But then, she said, that was no certainty either.

 

Arthit Khwankhom

 

The Nation

 

Phuket

[thai3]

 

 

200,000 baht for a few days treatment, what did they give him a heart transplant? seems a bit steep to say the least-peter

[Guest]

If it was me ( or my family) I would tell them to keep it.

 

not much use to anyone now.