Between 2013 and 2015, about 1.3 million patients had access to emergency medical care while only 400,000 critically ill patients did. The NIEM also stressed the need to improve and expand emergency care services to reach a wider public. According to the National Institute of Emergency Medicine, there were about 12 million emergency patients last year. Under the regulations, patients who are admitted to a hospital will receive emergency care for 72 hours, free of charge. Hospitals which fail to follow new regulations on free emergency care for 72 hours will be punished.

Source: Bangkok Post April 03, 2017 06:56 UTC