Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is considering an increase in health insurance fees for migrant workers, aiming to bring the costs more in line with the government’s universal healthcare expenditure for Thai citizens, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin.
Under the current system, migrant workers pay between 1,600 and 2,400 baht annually for health insurance, whereas the government allocates approximately 3,800 baht per person per year for Thai citizens under the universal healthcare scheme.
According to The Nation’s report, the proposed adjustment is intended to address concerns that the lower insurance cost for migrants may place additional strain on the country’s healthcare system.
As of October 2024, official data showed that 309,416 migrant workers and their dependents – primarily from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos – were enrolled in the migrant health insurance fund. Of this total, 262,843 were workers and dependents over the age of seven, while 39,602 were dependents under seven, and 6,971 fell into the category of general migrants.
In a separate development, Somsak announced plans to visit Mae Sot Hospital in Tak province on Friday, accompanied by the ministry’s permanent secretary, to evaluate the impact of an increase in patient numbers on local healthcare facilities.
The rise in demand follows the suspension of US foreign aid funding, which has led to the closure of seven hospitals along the Thai-Myanmar border. These hospitals had been providing medical care for approximately 100,000 refugees.
The health minister said that the Thai government is preparing contingency measures in the event that the suspension extends beyond 90 days.
“The International Rescue Committee is negotiating with the US to lift the suspension,” Somsak said, as reported by The Nation.
Among the planned actions is the potential transfer of critically ill patients to Thai hospitals for treatment.
“As for Thailand, we can only provide humanitarian aid to these refugees, just as we have continued caring for some 2 million migrant workers who are not under the social security system,” Somsak said.
Health officials in border areas will also conduct monitoring efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including lymphatic filariasis and cholera, which have not been reported in Thailand for several years.
