A HEALTH CHECK
Over the past three
decades, the health status of the Thai people have improved
considerably and rapidly. Thailand’s health system has done
extremely well at facing the many challenges that affects the health
of its population. The infant mortality rate has reduced drastically
and the life expectancy has risen to the levels of many developed
countries. Life expectancy at birth has increased from 55.9 to 69.97
years for males and 62.0 to 74.99 years for females. By 2020, this
will increase to approximately 72 years for males and 76 years for
females. The elderly population is also expected to reach 10.78
million by then and this will represent approximately 15 per cent of
the population. The overall health services have also shifted to a
more integrated approach adopting preventive, promotive, curative and
rehabilitation services.
Healthcare in Thailand
is provided by both the public and private sectors. The current
healthcare system reflects the entrepreneurial market-driven nature of
the economy where private providers and insurers adopt a Laissez-faire
policy whilst the public sector will take care of healthcare financing
of some sectors of the population. Besides being the major provider
for public health services, the Ministry of Public Health plays a
major role as policy-maker, setting up standards, monitoring standards
compliance and providing technical support to all public and private
health facilities. The government is also an advocator of health
promotion and has introduced this as a strategic process to improve
the well being of the population in terms of disease prevention and
living a healthy lifestyle.
NEW HEALTH PATTERNS…
Health patterns are
often associated with demographic, social and economic conditions. As
the country progresses and with industrialisation and urbanisation,
Thailand is now faced with
Experiencing
demographic and epidemiological transitions, moving away from the
burden of communicable diseases of the past to chronic diseases of the
aging population. New diseases often associated with developed
economies such as cardiovascular ailments, hypertension and
cerebrovascular disease, malignant neoplasm, cancer, diabetes,
pneumonia, lung ailments, etc. Environmental health hazards . An aging
population. All this will have longer term consequences for the labour
force growth and the need for long term healthcare.
THE NEED FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE….
Thailand is making
strides in its efforts to Reform the health management systems making
it more effective and efficient. Make healthcare affordable to the
people. Attain world class standards in its healthcare facilities curb
occupational diseases develop effective technologies and innovations
for disease prevention and control of both emerging and re-emerging
communicable and non-communicable diseases including AIDS,
cardiovascular diseases, cancer and mental health problems. Educate
the public on living healthier lifestyles by conducting intensive
health promotion campaigns in collaboration with the private sectors
accelerate the universal coverage of health insurance particularly for
the poor and underprivileged to cover all health services ranging from
curative car to medical rehabilitation.
There are plans to
increase the number of health centres, infrastructural upgrading of
existing health facilities in the country and to make healthcare
available close to where the people are living. The changes in
demographics in terms of decline in fertility, longer life expectancy
and the aging population have resulted in an enormous need for better
healthcare. With more than 1,000 private and government hospitals in
Thailand, these healthcare providers and those employed in the medical
profession are constantly looking for:
-
Better medical and health teachnologies,
medical equipment and devices
-
New and affordable diagnostics, drugs,
vaccines, etc.
-
Improvements in efficient healthcare systems
and public health programs and better utilization of surveillance
data and health information
-
Ways to reduce health inequalities within the
country.
With the improvements
in the economy, imports of medical devices are expected to increase.
In 2000 and 2001, the market growth rate was estimated to be about 12
per cent and this was derived mainly from private hospitals and is
expected to improve further. The pharmaceutical market, both ethical
and over the counter, was estimated to be about USS 594 million in
1999 and this is also foreseeable to increase with the more than
positive growth forecast of the Thai economy as projected for in the
next few years.
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