<p>The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Thailand rose to 177 over the past three days, while a cabinet resolution ordered all Bangkok Metropolitan Region&nbsp;educational institutions and places of entertainment are to close for 14 days.</p>

<p><em>Some stories that probably won&rsquo;t be appearing in the next few weeks.</em></p>

<p>More and more people travel across international borders for the purpose of receiving medical care. Medical tourism, as this growing phenomenon is commonly called, features prominently in Southeast Asia, with Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore among the top world destinations thanks to relatively lower costs of care, cutting-edge equipment and expertise, and visitors’ friendly attitude.&nbsp; At the receiving end of services, Indonesia is one of the major sending countries for outbound medical tourism as many Indonesians travel to Malaysia or Singapore in search of better care.</p>

<p dir="ltr">While taking credit internationally for the country’s healthcare scheme, the Thai junta has begun the process of amending the law which could put at risk the health of millions of Thais who rely on public health coverage.</p> <p></p>

<div> <div>The organisation responsible for Thailand’s universal health care system is facing budget cuts of 13 billion baht as the junta struggles to manage its finances.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 6 February 2017, the board of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) <a href="http://prachatai.com/journal/2017/02/69971">met</a> to review issues in its projected budget for 2018. </div></div>

<p>A network of people with HIV is urging the Thai authorities not to hand a multinational pharmaceutical company the right to monopolise a drug to combat Hepatitis B as patients may have to pay millions of baht for treatment. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Blood examination results of villagers residing in an area with a prolonged mining conflict show that hundreds of people have been contaminated with excessive heavy metallic substances.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="http://www.manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9590000025564">Manager Online</a>, reported that on Thursday, 10 March 2016, Chatporn Ratsadudee, Governor of the lower northern province of Phichit, held a meeting with a committee formed to solve the mining conflict between Akara Resources Pub Co., Ltd, a gold mining operator, and several anti-mine activists.</p>

<p>A former member of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has warned that if the new proposal to restructure the national public health budget is implemented, it would be as if the nation’s healthcare scheme was scrapped.</p> <p>Nimit Tienudom, former commissioner of the NHSO, on Sunday, 3 January 2016, said that despite reassurances from the military government that the universal healthcare will remain intact, a new resolution by the Office of the Council of State on the national healthcare budget would severely degrade the public health system if it is implemented.</p>

<p>The latest in-depth investigation into the Thai public health system shows much higher figures for maternal deaths and infant mortality than previously documented, revealing inequality in public health services despite the universal healthcare system.</p> <p>On Tuesday afternoon, 25 August 2015, the&nbsp;<a href="http://tdri.or.th/en/">Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI)</a>, a Thai public policy think tank, held a press briefing on a report of Thailand’s public health policies.</p>