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Bangkok Post
17-07-2025
- Health
- Bangkok Post
‘Gold card' healthcare now covers cancer patients' transport costs
Free transport services are now available to cancer patients seeking certain advanced treatments under Thailand's universal healthcare programme, the government has announced. The National Health Security Board has approved funding for the 'gold card' unicersal coverage programme operated by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to cover transport costs for patients requiring three high-end cancer treatments — proton therapy, eye plaque brachytherapy for ocular tumours, and robotic surgery — which are currently available only at major hospitals. 'Many patients have previously faced financial hardship due to interprovincial travel expenses,' deputy government spokeswoman Sasikarn Wattanachan said on Thursday. 'This new benefit not only eases the financial burden but also increases access to life-saving care for patients and their families. It marks a significant step forward in improving the quality of life for Thai people.' Under the programme, the NHSO has established a coordination system linking referring hospitals with destination facilities. This includes arranging door-to-door transport for cancer patients and their relatives from their homes to designated public transport services without the need for advance payment. Upon arrival, connecting transport is provided to the treatment hospitals. The service covers round-trip journeys throughout the treatment process and is now operational, said Ms Sasikarn. 'The government is committed to developing and upgrading the national health security system to ensure equal access for all,' she said. 'We believe this measure will reduce burdens, build confidence and genuinely improve the quality of life for cancer patients.'
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Thailand's Public Health Ministry Will Allocate More Than $4 Million for Trans Health Care
Them' On the heels of legalizing same-sex marriage, Thailand's Public Health Ministry is now allocating 145.63 million baht (roughly $4.3 million) toward funding health services, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), for transgender citizens. The Southeast Asian country's National Health Security Board approved the funding during its 2025 budget planning. The Bangkok Post reports that these health services are expected to provide care for around 200,000 trans people out of the country's estimated trans population of 314,808. Deputy government spokesman Anukool Pruksanusak said in a statement that the Public Health Ministry's coverage of gender-affirming healthcare aims to reduce national health disparities by emphasizing both physical and mental healthcare for 'sexually diverse individuals,' per the Bangkok Post. Thailand Could Soon Legalize Same-Sex Marriage. It Would Change Lives. Three couples speak to how marriage equality would transform their lives beyond marriage — and potentially shift Thai culture. Earlier this week, thousands of queer Thai couples tied the knot as Thailand officially began recognizing marriage equality on January 22, making it the first Southeast Asian country and the third Asian country overall to do so. Under the legislation, same-sex couples are entitled to the same legal, financial, and medical rights afforded to married heterosexual couples, including inheritance and adoption rights. 'This marriage equality law marks the beginning of Thai society's greater awareness of gender diversity, and our embrace of everyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion — our affirmation that everyone is entitled to equal rights and dignity,' Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said in a recorded statement played at a mass wedding in the Thai capital city of Bangkok on January 22, according to CNN. Get the best of what's queer. Sign up for Them's weekly newsletter here. Originally Appeared on them.
