Despite Surge to delay removing Covid-19 therapy from the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients scheme, Thailand’s well being minister is pushing ahead. According to a Bangkok Post report, Anutin Charnvirakul says the transfer will go ahead as planned as it’s a half of the government’s policy to downgrade the virus.
He was responding to calls from a quantity of quarters, including his deputy, Sathit Pitutecha, who asked him to postpone the removal of Covid-19 from March 1 until April. Sathit has expressed concern concerning the surge in infections in recent days.
The UCEP scheme at present allows Covid patients to be treated free of charge at any hospital for 3 days, before being transferred to the hospital they’re registered at underneath their welfare scheme. However, from March 1, Covid-19 will now not be classified as one of the conditions coated by the scheme. Patients who test optimistic for the virus however who aren’t critically unwell will only be ready to have therapy lined at the hospital where they’re registered. Only sufferers who develop a crucial, secondary infection because of Covid-19 may have therapy covered by the UCEP.
Anutin has rejected suggestions that the change in coverage will negatively affect Covid sufferers and says it’s according to a authorities policy of downgrading the virus from pandemic to endemic status. He says his ministry plans to declare Covid-19 endemic by the top of the 12 months.
Yesterday, Thailand reported 14,900 new cases and 26 Covid deaths. New infections have surged previous the ten,000 a day mark since earlier this month. However, the CCSA predicts that overall instances will begin to stage off and start dropping this week.
SOURCE: Bangkok Postg