Private hospitals have brought a lawsuit against the Commerce Ministry’s proposal to put healthcare and Medical expenses on a state price control list. The Private Hospital Association claimed that the proposal and further endeavors to control prices of these services have hurt their business. The lawsuit requests the revocation of the ministry’s order and to remove Medical supplies and service charges from the price control list.
The relevant Ministry department, the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services had approved putting Medical supplies and service charges on the list as part of an effort to reduce unfair pricing practices in the sector.
A working group in the Ministry is conducting a study of the production costs of medicines and services in more than 350 private hospitals. During a meeting of the working group periodic complaints of overcharging surfaced. In 2018, the Foundation for Consumers amassed over 50,000 signatures for a petition calling for state regulations on pricing procedures at private hospitals.
(Sources: The Bangkok Post; The Nation)
