Budget allocated to boost cash-flows of state hospitals

BANGKOK, April 19 (TNA) - The Thai Cabinet has allocated a total state budget of five billion baht to solve the liquidity problem of government-run hospitals. Thai Public Health Minister Dr. Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn told journalists on Wednesday that the budget will be disbursed to hospitals facing the problem at all levels, including general hospitals and community hospitals. Dr. Piyasakol said about three billion baht will be spent on in-patient treatment and one billion baht will be paid to hospital staff. Besides, a 300-million baht-budget will be used to cover treatment costs for underweight newborns and another some 600 million baht will be spent on repaying debts the hospitials having owed to his ministry. "Injecting money into the hospitals operating at a loss will only solve the problem in the short term, but in the long term, the now 15-year national health insurance law needs to be amended", the minister explained. According to the minister, potential hospitals have started their medical services on extra hours to patients who can afford higher costs in order that the hospitals can earn more income to offset their losses and can stand on their own feet financially in the long run. (TNA)