Home-based chemotherapy for colon cancer will be introduced in the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS)’s benefits package, as part of an effort to adopt social distancing in healthcare services.
 
“Though the outbreak has been under control in Thailand, there’s the concern for the second wave of coronavirus,” said Dr. Sakchai Kanjanawatana, Secretary-General of National Health Security Office (NHSO), the government agency operating UCS.
 
“Therefore, healthcare services and UCS benefits package must be adapted for social distancing.”
 
The NHSO plans to pilot home-based chemotherapy for colon cancer patients in 27 public hospitals by the end of this year, allowing UCS beneficiaries to access treatment without visiting hospitals while avoiding the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.  
 
Dr. Sakchai is confident that home-base chemotherapy will be practical and cost-saving as Ramathibodi Hospital, a university hospital capable of super tertiary care, achieved a similar initiative since 2016.   
 
Previously, the NHSO introduced other initiatives such as telemedicine and medicine home delivery service to encourage patients to stay home.  
 
The availability of the UCS budget creates a possibility to add new items to the scheme’s benefits package and guarantees the patients’ access to healthcare services in the most challenging time of the pandemic crisis, said Dr. Sakchai.