The government is mulling including medical and tutorial fees on the price control list as consumers are claiming their charges are exaggerated.
But private industry representatives argue that the proposal is expected to run through a lengthy debate, particularly for private medical services as they are made available on a voluntary basis.
Vatchari Vimooktayon,deputy director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the secretary of the Central Commission on Prices of Goods and Services will suggest relevant ministers consider and approve the two services being included on the price control list.
"Consumers are complaining the inflated medical and tutorial fees are exorbitant," said Mrs Vatchari."We need to closely monitor these sectors, particularly medical fees charged by private hospitals, as consumers are deeply affected by economic hardship."
Fees charged by private tutorial schools are also unfair as many schools have opted for video systems instead of hiring school teachers, she said.
The Internal Trade Department has 39 product and service items on its price control list, which means producers and service providers must provide details of production costs and proposed price changes to the ministry.Thirty-eight of the products are basic goods such as rice, cooking gas, shampoo, soap, condensed milk, fertiliser,detergent, steel and iron, with just one service: music distribution rights.
Chalerm Harnphanich, chief executive of SET-listed Bangkok Chain Hospital (KH), which operates Kasemrad Hospital, said Thailand offers basic health care through the 30-baht universal health-care scheme for the public,the social security fund for corporate employees and free medical services for state enterprises.
It is unnecessary to place medical services offered by private hospitals that customers voluntarily pay onto the price control list, he said.
Operating and investment costs for each hospital are also completely different, making the pricing structure vary for each operator, Dr Charlerm said.
"This is not a matter of cheap or expensive," said Dr Chalerm."It's rather a matter of choices, and we think the government itself needs to develop public medical services to be on par with private hospitals to meet people's expectations so they can have confidence in treatment."
Anusorn Sivakul, president of the Tutorial Schools Association, defended the tutorial fees by licensed tutorial institutes as controlled by the Education Ministry, which has already come up with clear guidelines and criteria for operation cost, number of students per class, and profit of not more than 15%.
There are about 1,700-1,800 licensed tutorial schools, charging an average of 20-50 baht per hour.
"We think the complaints may come from unlicensed tutorial schools which now outnumber the licensed ones,"said Mr Anusorn.
"But more importantly, we recommend the Commerce Ministry consult with the Education Ministry first on what the general practices of the tutorial schools are."
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
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