Consumers Council rejects co-payment scheme for insured medical expenses

13 Sept 14:26 Key points summarised by AI

The Consumers Council of Thailand vehemently rejects the Office of Insurance Commission’s (OIC) new co-payment scheme for health insurance, citing concerns over increased financial burden on policyholders.
The controversial scheme mandates insured individuals to co-pay a portion of medical expenses if their annual claims surpass specific premium thresholds (e.g., 200% for minor illnesses or 400% for general illnesses).
Intended to deter excessive claims, the co-payment policy applies only to new insurance policies issued from today, not existing ones.
The Council argues this scheme will not prevent excessive claims but instead impose undue financial strain on the insured.
They advocate for the Insurance Commission to instead focus on tackling the problem of overcharging by private hospitals as a more effective solution.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.