“Natthaphol” Reveals NHSO Pilot Project Granting Universal Health Coverage Rights to Descendants of Border Warriors

Today (23 Feb) 10:35 AM at the Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters, General Natthaphol Nakpanich, Minister of Defense, gave an interview regarding the results of the Defense Council meeting. He stated that the meeting discussed an initiative to care for the parents and descendants of deceased military personnel. This stemmed from his visits to the families of soldiers who died in border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. He received requests from the parents of the deceased soldiers, who previously had direct payment rights for medical treatment, but whose rights expired after their son's death. They wished to regain those rights.

General Natthaphol added that the Ministry of Defense has therefore proposed this to the Prime Minister. A request has been made to amend the Royal Decree to allow for the continued provision of direct reimbursement for medical treatment for parents with children or wives whose husbands have died while serving on the border. Recently, the prime minister instructed relevant agencies to consider this matter. The Ministry of Public Health, through the National Health Security Office (NHSO), has considered granting equivalent benefits to the direct reimbursement system for parents and heirs of soldiers who have died while serving on the border. This is a positive sign that the military will be able to care for the parents and heirs of subordinates who have passed away while on duty. The process is currently being expedited.