Sakolthee urges the Ministry of Education to unlock medical treatment rights for 200,000 private school teachers, pointing out a loophole with an annual cap of 150,000 baht and recommending legal amendments to allow access to the Gold Card scheme.
On 29 October 2026, during a House of Representatives meeting, Sakolthee Phattiyakul, a party-list MP from the Democrat Party, addressed the Speaker to submit demands to the Minister of Education regarding the medical treatment rights issues faced by private school teachers nationwide.
Sakolthee stated that, in principle, all Thai citizens have basic rights to medical treatment divided into three main funds: civil servant rights, National Health Security (Gold Card/NHSO), and social security rights. However, about 200,000 individuals—private school teachers—are excluded from accessing both the Gold Card and social security systems, being forced to use only the Private School Teachers' Welfare Fund under the Private School Act of 2007.
A key limitation of this welfare fund is the medical expense ceiling of 150,000 baht per year. If a private school teacher wishes to switch to the Gold Card or social security, the only condition is to resign from teaching. This budget cap contradicts medical realities; when teachers suffer serious illnesses with high costs, such as cancer, dialysis, or major surgery, any expenses exceeding 150,000 baht must be borne entirely out of their own pockets.
Sakolthee also highlighted an inconsistency within the same school: other staff like security guards, cleaners, or other personnel in private schools receive social security rights without such expense ceilings. This issue has become a legal loophole that unfairly burdens private school teachers, who are fundamental to the nation, for a long time.
To address this inequality, Sakolthee proposed two main solutions to the Minister of Education.
1. Allow private school teachers the right to opt into the social security system by amending relevant laws, including the Social Security Act or Private School Act, so that teachers can voluntarily contribute and receive social security benefits.
2. Extend the Gold Card coverage to include private school teachers not contributing to social security, ensuring full medical expense coverage without limits like those in the existing welfare fund.
Sakolthee emphasized that resolving these issues requires serious amendments to regulations and laws. He urged the Ministry of Education to act promptly because private school teachers are Thai citizens who serve to build the nation's future and therefore deserve basic medical care rights equal to all Thai people.