The government revealed that the NHSO board has approved increased payment rates for liver transplants and heart replacements under the Gold Card scheme, enhancing patient access to treatment. The budget used comes from savings by adjusting the reimbursement rates for immunosuppressant drugs.
On 30 May 2026, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the National Health Security Board approved the proposal from the Thai Organ Transplant Association to adjust payment rates for liver and heart transplant services under the National Health Security system (the 30-baht Gold Card). The funding is sourced from savings generated by lowering reimbursement rates for immunosuppressive drugs. This reduction does not affect treatment quality but aligns with lower drug prices. For months 13–24 post-surgery, the rate was reduced from 20,000 baht to 18,000 baht per month, and after 24 months, from 15,000 baht to 13,000 baht per month. These savings will be redirected to enhance other aspects of organ transplant patient care, reflecting effective fund management.
Ms. Ploytale stated that the key points of the resolution include increasing pre-surgery preparation costs for recipients from 30,000 baht to 40,000 baht per case, and for living donors from 40,000 baht to 45,000 baht per case. Meanwhile, heart transplant surgery fees were set as a lump sum of 600,000 baht per case, and pediatric liver transplant surgery fees at 660,000 baht per case. For adult liver transplants, especially patients with mid to end-stage cirrhosis, the previous lump sum payment of 600,000 baht—covering both donor and recipient surgeries—was split into two clear payments: 200,000 baht for the donor's liver surgery and 660,000 baht for the recipient's transplant surgery, to better reflect actual service costs.
Additionally, compensation for treatment of complications from cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, common among immunocompromised organ transplant patients, has been introduced. The reimbursement rates are 180,000 baht per case for CMV infection prevention and treatment, and 40,000 baht per case for cases where CMV is detected in the bloodstream. Previously, there was no compensation for these expenses. This change allows hospitals to provide more comprehensive care for patients.
“Organ transplantation is a vital service that saves lives, especially for patients with severe liver disease, children requiring liver transplants, and patients with end-stage heart failure. This payment rate adjustment is not just a budget change but strengthens the service system’s stability, enabling healthcare providers to deliver continuous care, reduce costs that no longer match current realities, and increase fair access for Gold Card patients to complex, costly treatments,” she said.