The Ministry of Public Health plans to put together a National Digital Health Agency to improve public health providers. The project had been proposed by a panel on health change set up in 2017.
Public Wellness Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the panel has proposed producing the agency plus digital database intended for when patients’ records are needed across health agencies.
He said some data will be employed for medical emergency purposes as well as for medical services for senior citizens if they visit hospitals they have never been to. The agency will also assist individuals get faster solutions and enable more efficient public health data management.
“We will consult with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Fee plans for a system linking all data to the new company. Initially, the committee plans to provide four billion baht in support to the company, ” Mr Anutin said.
Dr Udom Kachintorn, who chaired the committee on health reform, said the new agency will work since the main server just for sharing patient information with hospitals.
The assistance would be in line with the Public Health Ministry’s policy on the universal health care scheme that has allowed all patients to get medical treatment at any state-owned hospital nationwide.
The panel yesterday also observed its achievements in the last five years, included in this, improved health protection amid emerging diseases, enhanced healthcare performance, better health advertising among senior citizens, enhancements to the health insurance program, and reform associated with public health constituency.