On February 23, 2022, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin revealed that due to the current COVID-19 situation, the number of infected people has increased. The Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, cares for the employees and insured persons. They have emphasized the awareness of compliance with measures to continue to protect themselves. At the same time, the Ministry of Labour has not been complacent and has instructed the Social Security Office to prepare for the situation. The Ministry of Labour is ready with medical personnel of hospitals in the social security network, providing medical services to insured persons in the social security system under Section 33 and 39 who are infected with COVID-19 to receive free care and treatment promptly. They have also ensured the availability of beds hosted by hospitels to accommodate the situation already. Each day insured persons are circulating in and out. Once the insured persons are treated, and the doctor allows them to go home, the bed will be empty again. At the same time, the Social Security Office will coordinate to find additional beds to support adequate treatment of insured persons. Therefore, insured persons are asked not to worry and can be assured that the Ministry of Labour will manage beds and support their treatment from hospitals’ medical and nursing teams in the social security network.
Mr. Suchart continued that employees or insured persons who have questions or need help can contact the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline and press 6. There is a working group coordinating with hospitels to serve as a channel to support the insured person’s access to timely treatment and is a channel for insured persons who cannot find examination sites and hospitals to receive treatment in case of infection. After being notified, officials will quickly coordinate the transfer of the infected person, logging them into the treatment system to be at the hospital or hospitel first, emphasizing that infected insured persons are admitted to a hospitel first.
“Therefore, insured persons do not need to worry and can be confident that the government, the Ministry of Labour, and relevant units will be able to provide care for everyone infected with COVID-19 equally. There are enough beds to support patients to receive prompt treatment. The Prime Minister is concerned and has instructed care for the workforce like family members, without leaving anyone behind. We will overcome this crisis together,” concluded Mr. Suchart.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Division of Public Relations
23 February 2022
