BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s public health insurance authority advanced about 6.32 billion baht from the 2026 budget to ministry-run hospitals to avoid disruptions in patient care and stressed that inpatient reimbursement rates remained unchanged.
Advance billions from the new budget
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) said its board had approved an advance allocation of 6.32 billion baht from the 2026 budget for hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).
According to the agency, the money was intended to compensate for monthly reimbursements for inpatient services. Funds would be transferred to service units operating under the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the MOPH.
Board-level decision coordinated
NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadej Thammatacharee said the decision stemmed from a board meeting in which Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat, who also chaired the NHSO board, endorsed the advance allocation.
The agreement followed talks between the NHSO and the MOPH on 22 January that focused on the financial stability of public hospitals.
Ensuring services and hospital revenue
Dr Jadej stated that the advance financing was intended to ensure affected service units did not earn less revenue than in the previous year.
He added that the move aimed to prevent any disruption to patient treatment while hospitals waited for regular monthly reimbursements to be paid.
No cut to IPD reimbursement rate
The NHSO chief clarified that the reimbursement rate for inpatient services would remain at 8,350 baht per adjusted relative weight (AdjRW) for all facilities under the Health Ministry.
Reports claiming the rate had been reduced to 3,505.14 baht per AdjRW were inaccurate, he said, explaining that the lower figure was based on a different calculation method.
Explanation of the lower comparison figure
According to Dr Jadej, the lower number only emerged after deducting personnel costs and centrally retained budget shares at the national level.
He said these expenses were covered through separate state budget channels and should not be confused with the actual inpatient (IPD) reimbursement.
Response to concerns over unequal treatment
The NHSO board also addressed concerns that varying deductions in hospitals with different staff sizes could lead to inequalities.
The early allocation of funds was intended to ensure all facilities under the Health Ministry could continue providing services without interruption, regardless of their staffing levels or deduction structures.
Quelle: Bangkok Post