All Thai citizens to receive PP services at clinics and pharmacies nationwide
 
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) encourages Thai citizens to seek health promotion and disease prevention (PP) services at pharmacies and clinics partnering with the NHSO.
 
More than 1,000 pharmacies and clinics nationwide have joined the NHSO effort to improve access to PP services, maintaining people's good health and reducing their risk of chronic illnesses.
 
These services include free condoms and oral contraceptives, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, iron supplement pills, and physical and mental health risk screening and assessment.
 
All Thai citizens can check their eligibility and make appointments with healthcare unit staff through the ‘Pao Tang,’ a multi-purpose mobile application operated by the Thai government.


 
Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, the NHSO Secretary-General, stated that the inclusion of PP services in the national health security system aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and convenience for the entire population of Thailand.
 
This health benefit is available for the overall Thai population regardless of their healthcare schemes.
 
Around 99% of Thai people are covered by one of the three government healthcare schemes  Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), Social Security Scheme (SSS), and Civil Servant Medical Benefits Scheme (CSMBS).

The entire population coverage follows the endorsement of the cabinet’s resolution on 18 July, confirming the NHSO’s legitimacy to arrange PP services for all Thai citizens.
 
Responding to the resolution, the NHSO executive board issued a guideline that includes the implementation and management of PP health benefits in the fiscal year 2023.
 
The guideline consists of  criteria, methods, and conditions for receiving health services without any cost at pharmacies and clinics partnering with the NHSO.
 
There are eight PP services provided by the clinics or called ‘warm community clinics such as oral contraceptive pills; quality pregnancy care for women with non-high-risk pregnancies; free condoms; pregnancy testing; iron supplement pills; postnatal examination; iodine, iron, and folic acid supplementary; and physical and mental health risk screening and assessment.
 
Six PP services are available at pharmacies,  such as oral contraceptive pills for all Thai women of reproductive age; emergency contraception pills and counseling; free condoms; pregnancy self-tests; iron supplement pills and folic acid; and physical and mental health risk screening and assessment.
 
The front of a partnered pharmacy has a sign printed with "My pharmacy provides health promotion services."
 
According to the NHSO record, 331 clinics and 1,167 pharmacies have provided PP services in partnership with the NHSO.
 
Thai citizens can check their eligibility, make appointments through the Pao Tang mobile application and select the ‘health wallet’ menu.

Those without smartphones can present their national identity card at the health units for registration and receive the PP services, providing options for everyone.