Civil servants reined in over medical bills

       The government will start scrutinising medical bills at state hospitals across the country to curb civil servants and their families running up huge expenses at the public's expense.
       Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai yesterday said he had assigned the committee overseeing the national drug list to gather all information on medical expenses claimed by civil servants.
       His decision followed a meeting between officials and ministers from the Finance, Labour and Health ministries to revamp the state's health care benefits for up to 5 million civil servants and their families.
       "The Justice Ministry previously reported a drug corruption scandal involving the distribution of large quantities of medicines to civil servants at several hospitals,' said Mr Witthaya,speaking at a conference on the development of medical services at local hospitals.
       "Some of these cases have already been subject to legal action," he said.
       Many civil servants and their families have been criticised for seeking reimbursement for medical expenses deemed to be unjustifiable.
       Some civil servants reportedly claimed back expenses for non-medical services such as spa treatments.
       The national medical welfare budget for civil servants has skyrocketed over the past four years to 80 billion baht a year from 30 billion baht as a result.
       Civil servants, who largely earn a modest salary, are given free medical care by the state. They are also entitled to be reimbursed by the ComptrollerGeneral's Department, under the Finance Ministry, for medical expenses they have paid in advance.
       Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu last month suggested the civil service's medical coverage should be reduced by requiring civil servants to help contribute to medical savings accounts.
       In another development, Winai Sawasdiworn, secretary-general of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) which runs the state's universal health care scheme, said the agency and health academics would on Tuesday discuss issues concerning the various types of medical benefits.
       The aim was to find ways to better manage health funds and synchronise the medical schemes, he said.
       The cabinet on Aug 5 approved draft amendments to the Social Security Fund Act to expand health care benefits to cover 5.7 million families of private sector employees who are members of the Social Security Fund.
       The spouses and children of SSF members are currently entitled to medical treatment under the universal health care scheme, but they are not eligible for free treatment under the social security scheme.
       The government plans to draw part of the budget from the NHSO and give it to the Social Security Office (SSO) to help the latter cope with rising expenses resulting from the expanded coverage.
       The health minister yesterday said the amended Social Security Fund Act would not affect the funding programme's financial stability.
       The fund covers 9.2 million privatesector employees.
       The Social Security Office handles the fund worth more than 400 billion baht.
       It annually makes about 20 billion baht profit from the legal requirement for employers and employees to contribute 1.5% of their income to the fund.
       Pun Wunnapinij, the SSO secretarygeneral, earlier said the prospect of an increase in the number of fund beneficiaries was less worrying than the possibility that contributions to the fund might drop due to rising unemployment figures.
       Falling contributions could affect the fund's stability, he said.