Actor and rescue volunteer Ekaphan Banluerit yesterday warned that rescue volunteers are more interested in kickbacks from private hospitals than the health of emergency patients.

"Sometimes, rescue workers rush the patients to a more distant hospital simply because the hospital offers a bigger kickback," Ekaphan told a public hearing on the emergency medicine bill.

"In emergency cases, being a few minutes late is critical," he said.

Private hospitals - usually the smaller and less-known ones - pay emergency volunteers between Bt500 and Bt3,000 for every emergency patient they drop off, Ekaphan said.

If the patient needs an operation the volunteer can get a Bt3,000 kickback, while Bt1,500 is paid if the patient requires a plaster cast, he said.

The volunteer gets Bt500 for a patient needing stitches, he added.

"The government should ban such practices," Ekaphan said.

Responding to the charge, Private Hospital Association president Dr Prapa Wongpaet urged Ekaphan to name the hospitals that pay kickbacks for emergency patients.

"Don't hurl blanket accusations," she said.

Ekaphan called on the authorities to urgently deal with kickbacks-for-patients healthcare, saying it had corrupted volunteers.

"Most rescue volunteers used to work from the heart. Now, they seem to work for money," he said.

The volunteers receive no pay or allowances, while rescue workers receive a monthly salary, daily allowances and two meals.

Public Health Ministry deputy permanent secretary Dr Kittisak Klabdee, who chaired the public hearing, said the emergency medicine bill would address the problem.

The legislation requires rescue volunteers and workers to be registered and trained. Operation centres will instruct them where to rush emergency patients and the decision will be based on the hospital's location and facilities.

The bill received Cabinet approval on March 10.

It is designed to better protect emergency patients. It would set up an efficient system for helping emergency patients by ensuring well-trained rescuers, well-equipped ambulances and penalties for medical facilities that refuse to provide immediate emergency treatment.

Hospital staff could face a year in jail, a Bt20,000 fine or both if they respond to the arrival of patient needing emergency treatment by asking about insurance or who will pay the bill.