The new health captain makes an entry promise.
PUBLISHED: September 13, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
UDON THANI- The Ministry of Public Health has vowed to enhance the universal healthcare system, providing better exposure and services to everyone, particularly those who live in poverty in large cities.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Opas Kankawinpong, stated that although the universal health care system has been in place for 21 years, it could still be improved to better accommodate people’s shifting lifestyles. He was speaking at an educational seminar on Tuesday in Udon Thani province.
Previously, the ministry defined defenseless or delicate groups as people who reside in remote areas without access to basic healthcare.
However, in modern times, this even refers to those who are in need and who have trouble getting medical care in large towns like Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Nakhon Ratchasima.
According to Dr. Opas, this is a problem that the department needs to address.
Our task under the” 30-baht healthcare scheme plus ,” which we will launch soon in line with the new minister’s policy, is to ensure that the vulnerable groups can access medical treatments under it without any restrictions.
He continued,” Many problems must be discussed, such as staff shortages and job descriptions for medical employees.”
Fresh doctors have been leaving state-owned clinics due to their overloaded workloads, which is causing a shortage of skilled personnel for the ministry. As many patients visit state-run hospitals, the general care program is seen as one aspect contributing to this overcrowding.
The ministry will concentrate on healthcare protection, health promotion, treatment, and the use of technology, including healthcare, to lower the number of outpatients at express hospitals under the” 30-baht universal care plus” concept.
As part of the new administration’s plan to replace restrictions on common care, Dr. Opas stated that patients may use their ID cards to get any hospital healthcare service rather than being restricted to the hospital where they originally registered.
The government will discuss the matter with the National Health Security Office, which is in charge of the budget for the common healthcare program, and choose a suitable planning for hospitals across the country.