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arrangement to provide service specifically to persons with disabilities. The

government should accelerate the implementation of the 2012 Cabinet

decision so that public hospitals have the facilities accessible to persons

with disabilities. (See details in paragraphs 13-14 above). Every hospital

should install a 24-hour sign language translation booth or provide for a

laptop computer to be linked to the Thai Telecommunication Relay

Service which have sign language interpreters to give real time translation

through computer monitors. This would help solve the communication

problem for hearing impaired persons who have to go to the hospital

urgently.

56. Currently there are discrepancies in the health services provided to

persons with disabilities under the universal health care coverage scheme

and those under the social security system. The former is the health care

system funded by the government for everyone who is not in the civil

service or employee of a private company while the latter is a system

specifically for employees and is funded by contribution from both

employers and employees in proportion provided for by the law. Persons

with disabilities who are unemployed enjoy their right to health under the

universal health care coverage scheme. Once they become employed,

their right is transferred to the social security system, which limits the

scope of medical treatment and rehabilitation to disability that is caused

after, and not before, they join the social security program. The benefits

they enjoy under the social security system are thus less than those under

the universal health care coverage scheme. This is in spite of the fact that

they have to make a monthly contribution to the social security fund in

order to receive the benefit package while under the universal health care