
BANGKOK, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed on Monday that the board of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has approved the inclusion COVID-19 into its health care coverage program.
Anutin said that a 3.5-billion-baht (111.3 million U.S. dollars) budget will be sought from the contingency budget for treatment in the remaining seven months of fiscal 2020 ending in October.
"The budget will include costs such as prevention, awareness campaigns, diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation, for the 48.3 million members of the national health program, also known as the gold card," Anutin said.
"Actually state hospitals serving COVID-19 patients have already listed the latter into the universal healthcare program before the NHSO had officially endorsed it," said NHSO secretary-general Dr Sakchai Kanchanawattana on Monday.
Anutin also said that the local NHSO funds, in collaboration with local administration organizations, can also tap the fund to prevent the outbreak and promote awareness in densely populated communities.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses