Last updated on September 26th, 2023 at 08:51 am
Nakhon Phanom, Thailand – Dr. Ongkot Manikas, a Member of Parliament for District 3 in Nakhon Phanom, has called on the government to enhance public health care and increase welfare benefits for daily wage nursing staff. He has proposed an increase in compensation for village health volunteers (known as “Or Sor Mor” in Thai) from 1,000 baht to 3,000 baht to align with the rising cost of living.
Dr. Ongkot highlighted the success of the 30-baht health care policy, which covers treatment for all diseases. He reminisced about its inception in 2002 when he served as the director of Plapak District Hospital in Nakhon Phanom. While the program was initially well-received, there were limitations, such as restricted patient rights based on the designated hospital on their card and non-inclusion of certain diseases, especially for patients requiring dialysis. However, recent advancements in the program, starting January 2022, have allowed for more comprehensive care, including dialysis treatments from February 2022 onwards.
With the expansion of health care services, Dr. Ongkot believes that there will be an influx of patients, thereby increasing the workload for doctors and nurses. He emphasized the need for the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health to prioritize the welfare of nurses and staff, especially those working on daily wages.
Furthermore, Dr. Ongkot also addressed the potential of medical marijuana. He urged the government to expedite the formulation of clear legislation concerning medical marijuana, both for medical and economic purposes. He believes that a well-defined law will benefit Thailand and curb the rise of gray-market marijuana businesses.
The MP’s proposals come at a time when Thailand is witnessing significant changes in its health care policies and a growing interest in the potential benefits of medical marijuana.
