Intersex people who are born with a combination of male and female biological characteristics are entitled to health security right for sex change but with approval of a medical practitioner, said Dr Sakchai Kanchanawattana, secretary-general of the Office n of National Health Security.
His was responding to a question raised by the National Human Rights Commission about whether intersex people could ask for a sex change under health security scheme without paying any expenses for the surgery.
Dr Sakchai said that people classified as LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) who are entitled to use health security scheme for sex change are confined to the intersex group only.
He cited as an example, a person with breasts and a male genital as well as other female characteristics such as female hormones and a doctor has approved the person of being a female requiring medical treatment to fit with the actual gender.
In such a case, he explained that the person would be entitled to health security coverage for medical assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
Transgender, he added, is not entitled to health security coverage for sex change.
