Comments on: Save for sufficiency http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:10:35 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: cheeky http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-6281 cheeky Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:41:58 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/#comment-6281 Its funny that the anti-Taksin claimed Taksinomist and troppled him in the recently. 30 baht scheme is the one of Taksinomist in which save amont of money and Sorayud is going to convince people as free scheme. There is no reason for opposing. Its funny that the anti-Taksin claimed Taksinomist and troppled him in the recently. 30 baht scheme is the one of Taksinomist in which save amont of money and Sorayud is going to convince people as free scheme. There is no reason for opposing.

]]> By: Krid http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-5618 Krid Sat, 04 Nov 2006 14:02:01 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/#comment-5618 Ant, the 30-baht scheme improved the position of the poor in that they had a RIGHT to healthcare, and not be at the MERCY of hospital officials, removing the humiliation of people in need of care by often condescending state employees. Ant, the 30-baht scheme improved the position of the poor in that they had a RIGHT to healthcare, and not be at the MERCY of hospital officials, removing the humiliation of people in need of care by often condescending state employees.

]]> By: chris white http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-5607 chris white Sat, 04 Nov 2006 11:32:32 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/#comment-5607 Thanks Ant. Yes I think everybody understood how health care was delivered before the previous government introduced a ‘universal’ health care system. In my post I was commenting on access to the health care system post coup d'état (or stratocracy or Thai democracy or what ever you want to call it.) Thanks Ant. Yes I think everybody understood how health care was delivered before the previous government introduced a ‘universal’ health care system. In my post I was commenting on access to the health care system post coup d’état (or stratocracy or Thai democracy or what ever you want to call it.)

]]> By: Ant http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-5598 Ant Sat, 04 Nov 2006 09:30:59 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/#comment-5598 Chris, the free public health for the poorest of the poor is not new as previous to Thaksin, dating back to the early nineties and late eighties public health was negotiated on an ability to pay basis, those who could did, those who couldn't didn't, and people's bills were worked out on this basis so sometimes you would pay a part of the whole. Chris, the free public health for the poorest of the poor is not new as previous to Thaksin, dating back to the early nineties and late eighties public health was negotiated on an ability to pay basis, those who could did, those who couldn’t didn’t, and people’s bills were worked out on this basis so sometimes you would pay a part of the whole.

]]> By: chris white http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-5573 chris white Sat, 04 Nov 2006 01:13:13 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/#comment-5573 There has been a lot of smoke and mirrors around the healthcare debate. 'Its all getting a bit weird' too! At first it was criticized as fiscally irresponsible. Then, because the amount was so small,’ only’ 30 baht, (try explaining that to someone earning the daily minimum wage of about 170 baht) it wasn’t worth collecting. So it was announced that they would stop collecting it. The assumption was that healthcare is going to be free for all. However, reports last week (in the Nation if I remember rightly) were referring to free health care being only available to the ‘poorest of the poor’ and that those who could afford to pay would be required to pay. I’ll take bets on that the group ‘who can afford to pay’ will include also include those on the minimum wage. There were other reports last week (I think again in the Nation) that announced, proudly, that national pride had been restored in the battle of rice exports. It looked like Vietnam was going take Thailand’s number one position as chief rice exporter. However, with good luck and good management Thailand was going to hold on. Buried in the article was the announcement that the ‘floor price’ for rice, instituted by the previous government, was being abolished. This was going to allow the price of Thai rice fall so that it could ‘compete’ with Vietnamese rice. There was another line buried in the article that the only people who will disadvantage by the demise of the ‘floor price’ would be Thai rice farmers. Apparently, both governments have ‘promised’ each other that they wont ‘dump’ their rice on the international market. So far I’d say the score is ‘Thai National Pride’ = 2 – ‘Thai Farmers’ = 0 There has been a lot of smoke and mirrors around the healthcare debate. ‘Its all getting a bit weird’ too!

At first it was criticized as fiscally irresponsible. Then, because the amount was so small,’ only’ 30 baht, (try explaining that to someone earning the daily minimum wage of about 170 baht) it wasn’t worth collecting. So it was announced that they would stop collecting it. The assumption was that healthcare is going to be free for all. However, reports last week (in the Nation if I remember rightly) were referring to free health care being only available to the ‘poorest of the poor’ and that those who could afford to pay would be required to pay. I’ll take bets on that the group ‘who can afford to pay’ will include also include those on the minimum wage.

There were other reports last week (I think again in the Nation) that announced, proudly, that national pride had been restored in the battle of rice exports. It looked like Vietnam was going take Thailand’s number one position as chief rice exporter. However, with good luck and good management Thailand was going to hold on. Buried in the article was the announcement that the ‘floor price’ for rice, instituted by the previous government, was being abolished. This was going to allow the price of Thai rice fall so that it could ‘compete’ with Vietnamese rice. There was another line buried in the article that the only people who will disadvantage by the demise of the ‘floor price’ would be Thai rice farmers. Apparently, both governments have ‘promised’ each other that they wont ‘dump’ their rice on the international market.

So far I’d say the score is ‘Thai National Pride’ = 2 – ‘Thai Farmers’ = 0

]]> By: James Haughton http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-5527 James Haughton Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:46:37 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/11/03/save-for-sufficiency/#comment-5527 I seem to recall that Surayud has been promising to cut the cost of healthcare from 30 baht to 0. Not exactly fiscally responsible. I seem to recall that Surayud has been promising to cut the cost of healthcare from 30 baht to 0. Not exactly fiscally responsible.

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