Thai officials today vowed to investigate the circumstances which led to the death of a newborn infant and also make it easier to process insurance coverage.
Chonthicha Wanthip, 31, lost her newborn baby boy after being turned away by a private hospital on Sunday.
Although her social security insurance entitled her to services, Chonticha was told by staff at the hospital, whose name has been withheld, she must pay THB18,000 in advance.
Chonthicha, who could not afford to pay, was shipped off by taxi to a government hospital. At some point she opted to return to her home on Soi Inthamara 1 in the Phaya Thai district to have a natural childbirth. The baby died soon thereafter, Sanook reported.
The incident came to media attention after authorities and celebrity activist Bin Banleurit went to Chonthicha’s home after being contacted by a neighbor.
She might have cause to sue the hospital, the Metropolitan Police said, because hospitals are legally obligated to provide treatment for life-threatening emergencies. Anyone found guilty in such a case is subject to a 3-year jail term or THB6,000 fine or both. Chonthicha has yet to file a complaint, NNT reported.
In response, the Ministry of Public Health today said today it would investigate the private hospital Chonthicha originally sought help from. And officials with the Social Security Office announced they will streamline the process for paying hospitals for such services. Once their new rules go into effect, mothers can receive normal or emergency childbirth services at any hospital, said acting SSO Secretary-General Jirasuk Sugandhajati. Those hospitals will be directly reimbursed at a standard rate of THB13,000, he added.
Meanwhile the story has inspired outrage from many quarters. Some online commentators have said this illustrates failures of an overly bureaucratic insurance system and a lack of education about how to claim benefits. Other netizens have taken to social media to blame the mother for her baby’s death, faulting her ignorance, decision to return home and lack of adequate planning.
