BANGKOK, May 30 (TNA) – A new consumer protection measure
takes effect on Thursday, requiring private hospitals to display prices of
drugs to ensure fair and reasonable medical service.
After being signed on Wednesday, the Commerce Ministry’s
announcement of the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services became
effective on Thursday requiring hundreds of private hospitals to display prices
of 3,892 drugs, mostly those used in emergency cases.
The Internal Trade Department Director-General Whichai
Phochanakij said in a press conference on Thursday that the new regulation was
formulated based the principles of free price, consumer choice and reasonable
treatment.
Private hospitals must display prices of drugs on the list
on Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) using QR codes to allow
them to compare prices. They have to
provide prescriptions in order to allow patients to buy drugs from other
sources as well.
When raising drug prices, the hospitals must notify the
Department in advance or face punishments, according to Whichai.
The announcement also stipulates central-level and
provincial-level committees to review patients’ complaints on medical service
fee. If found guilty of collecting
unreasonable fees, those hospitals will a face fine up to Bt140,000 and/or
imprisonment of no more than seven years. (TNA)
