Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is evaluating a potential rise in health insurance premiums for migrant workers, with the goal of aligning costs more closely with the state’s universal healthcare spending for Thai nationals, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin.
Currently, migrant workers contribute between 1,600 and 2,400 baht yearly for health coverage, while the government spends roughly 3,800 baht annually per Thai citizen under the national universal healthcare program.
Proposed migrant worker health coverage
According to The Nation’s coverage, the suggested revision aims to address worries that the reduced insurance rates for migrants could potentially burden the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.
Statistics from October 2024 revealed that 309,416 migrant workers and their family members – mostly from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos – were registered in the migrant health insurance program. This number comprised 262,843 workers and dependents above age seven, 39,602 dependents under seven, and 6,971 classified as general migrants.
Government plans assessment of border healthcare services
Additionally, Somsak disclosed plans to inspect Mae Sot Hospital in Tak province on Friday, joined by the ministry’s permanent secretary, to assess how increased patient volumes are affecting local medical facilities.
The surge in demand stems from the halt of US foreign aid funding, resulting in the shutdown of seven hospitals along the Thai-Myanmar border. These facilities had been serving approximately 100,000 refugees.
The health minister indicated that Thai authorities are developing backup plans should the suspension last beyond 90 days.
“The International Rescue Committee is in talks with the US to end the suspension,” Somsak stated, as cited by The Nation.
The proposed measures include possibly transferring severely ill patients to Thai medical centers for care.
“Regarding Thailand’s position, we can only offer humanitarian assistance to these refugees, similar to our ongoing support for about 2 million migrant workers outside the social security system,” Somsak explained.
Healthcare officials in border regions will also implement surveillance measures to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases, including lymphatic filariasis and cholera, which haven’t been detected in Thailand for several years.