<p>A healthcare expert has voiced opposition to the proposal to separate the salaries of public health personnel from the total public healthcare budget, warning that it could result in serious inequality in health care. </p>
<p>On 12 July 2017, Winai Swasdiworn, former Secretary-General of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), publically warned of the danger in separating the salaries of public health personnel from the total budget for national universal healthcare, aka the ‘Gold Card Scheme’.</p>
<p>Patients suffering from kidney failure have expressed opposition to a plan to introduce a co-payment system for their treatment in an attempt to reduce the public health budget.</p>
<p>On 4 July 2017, representatives of the Kidney Failure Patients Association (KFPA), Healthy Forum, Thai NGO Coalition on AIDS, Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNPLH) and other organizations submitted a joint statement to Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, Minister for Public Health.</p>
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<div>The Rural Doctors’ Association (RDA) has criticised the junta’s plans to amend the National Health Security Act, arguing it has overlooked the interests of the people.</div>
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<div>On 12 June 2017, the RDA released a statement lambasting the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) for turning its back on past commitments to universal health.</div>
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<div>The junta’s proposed revisions to the National Health Security Act threaten to abolish Thailand’s universal healthcare, also known as the "Gold Card" medical scheme.
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<div>Police officers and soldiers have barred villagers from joining a march in Bangkok protesting amendment to the National Health Security Act. </div>
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<div>On 6 June 2017, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeopleHealthSystemsMovement/photos/a.133675130085627.25356.133669246752882/1402289353224192/">People's Health Systems Movement</a> (PHSM) staged a protest at the office of the United Nations in Bangkok demanding the junta cease efforts to amend the National Health Security Act that threaten to abolish Thailand’s universal healthcare, also known as the "Gold Card" m
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