(File photo)The new chief of the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (NIEM) has pledged to look into complaints that some private hospitals are charging for emergency care services which are supposed to be provided free. For example, some patients suffered from severe stomach aches and thought this was an emergency case and sought free emergency care at private hospitals. He stressed the need to improve and expand emergency care services to reach a wider public. Delegates at the meeting held before Dr Atchariya's briefing also agreed emergency patients must suffer from 25 emergency conditions to qualify. Injuries sustained from traffic accidents, animal attacks, fire, and chemical burns are also on the list of those which qualify for free medical care.

Source: Bangkok Post March 09, 2017 21:22 UTC