Health and health care in Thailand

 

Thailand has a population of 66,785,000 people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand has had a long and successful history of health (WHO, 2014). Health is overseen and directed by the Ministry of Public Health, they are helped by various public bodies such as the National Health Commission Office (NHCO), National Health Security Office (NHSO), Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) and many others (WHO, 2014). Thailand’s health care services are largely provided by the public sector. There 1,002 hospitals and 9,765 health stations. Per million people, there are approximately 298 doctors (WHO, 2004) and 1524 nurses. There are three programs which provide Universal Health Care (UHC), the civil service welfare system for civil servants and their families, Social Security for private employees and Universal Coverage (UC) scheme for all other Thai people (NHSO, 2012). The UC is free and when applied to can be used all other the country. The UC was implemented in 2002 and originally there was a co-payment of 30 Baht per treatment/visit to be paid. These days it is all free. However, this means that there are some difficulties arising; inequalities, duplication of resources and rising costs. From the total health care expenditure 65% comes from the government and 35% comes from private sources.

Most common diseases are: HIV/AIDS, cholera, diphtheria, tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, measles and mumps. HIV/AIDS prevalence has decreased significantly in the last 10 years, in 2005 it was 1,4% and in 2013 it was 1,1%. Leprosy has had an even steadier decrease in the number of reported cases, first reported in 2005, the number of cases was 638. Last year, in 2013, the number of reported cases was 188. This can also be said for malaria and mumps. Cholera, diphtheria, tuberculosis and measles had no previous statistics to compare.

Thailand’s health has gotten better. There is also an improvement in two year survival rates for cancer and heart attacks. (Lindelow, Magnus; et al., 2012.)

 

Life expectancy at birth for males is 71 years, for females is 79 years. Then the probability of dying between the ages of 15 and 60 for males is 182 persons per 1000. For females, this is 90 persons per 1000. Gross national income per capita, in the international dollar, is 9,280 (WHO, 2012). The total expenditure on health per capita, in international dollar, is 386. The percentage of GDP expended on health is 4.1 (WHO, 2014). Underweight has a prevalence of 6.6% among women; this is based on a Body Mass Index lower than 18.5 kg/m². A BMI of over 25 kg/m² indicates overweight; the prevalence is 37.1% among women. Of this 37.1% there is a 10.2% group that is obese. This can be seen below.

Title:  National Nutrition Survey 2003, (Ministry of Public Health in Thailand, 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children under the age of 5 have been divided in 4 categories; underweight, stunting, wasting and overweight. Overall it can be said that underweight and stunting has improved in children because the amount has gone done. However overweight has gone up. Wasting had gone down in 2005-2006, but it went back up in 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall it can be said that the Thai healthcare system has vastly improved, since its beginning.