25 private rehabilitation clinics join UCS

Starting from 1 January, 25 private physical therapy and rehabilitation clinics provide health services to people with stroke, traumatic brain, and spinal cord injury under Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS).

Dr Sakchai Kanjanawatana, Secretary-General of Thailand's National Health Security Office (NHSO), said that private clinics' engagement in UCS aims to increase access to healthcare services.

Previously, the scheme beneficiaries could request free physical therapies and rehabilitation services in public hospitals and primary care centers. Involving private health facilities in the scheme will provide patients more entry points to the services, said Dr Sakchai. 

Twenty-five clinics based in cities, including Bangkok metropolitan and northeastern economic zone, have signed contracts with the NHSO to partake in the UCS. Each clinic has at least one physiotherapist, passing health authorities' standard checks and obtaining a license under Thai health regulation. 

They will receive patients with stroke, traumatic brain, and spinal cord injury transferred from state hospitals, which will share patients' health condition data with the clinics to achieve therapeutic outcomes.

The NHSO will reimburse the service fees to the clinics, supported by the Thai government's 10-million-baht budget set for health facilities to adapt to social distancing.