BANGKOK, Thailand – Senator Dr. Veerapun Suvannamai issued a stark warning that Thailand’s public healthcare system faces collapse within three years if urgent financial adjustments are not made. Dr. Veeraphan cited alarming deficits at state hospitals: 218 facilities operating in the red and 91 more with reserves under 5 million baht—insufficient to handle any crisis.
He noted that average inpatient costs run about 13,000 baht per case, yet the National Health Security Office (NHSO) reimburses just 7,100 baht (2025 figures). “Hospitals are dipping into their own funds to cover nearly half the cost of treatment,” he said.
While new benefits—such as home drug delivery, community pharmacy pick-ups, and at-home blood draws—are popular, Dr. Veerapun questioned their sustainability without additional funding. He warned system reserves have shrunk from 14 billion baht before the pandemic to just 2 billion today and could be exhausted within three years.
Dr. Veerapun called for immediate measures:
-Halt benefit expansions that outpace the budget
-Adjust reimbursement rates to match actual costs
-Assign clear financial responsibility for any new programs
-Establish a rescue fund for struggling hospitals
-Allocate resources according to patient severity
He urged the public and policymakers to face these realities now to preserve universal “free” care for future generations.
