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NHSO to expand “30-baht get treatment anywhere” pilot project in eight provinces
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has expanded the pilot areas that allow beneficiaries of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) to access health services at any entry point regardless of their registry health facilities.
Campaigned with the title “30-baht get treatment anywhere,” the phase-two pilot will expand into eight provinces from March 1 onward.
These provinces are Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Amnat Charoen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sing Buri, Phang Nga, and Sa Kaeo.
The expansion is a result of the NHSO board’s meeting on February 21, which acknowledged the positive outcomes of the phase-one pilot in four provinces - Phrae, Roi Et, Phetchaburi, and Narathiwat — leading to the expansion pilot’s coverage area into other provinces.
“30-bath” is another campaign name of the UCS, used when it was launched in 2002 when patients were required to pay 30 baht in contribution to the health service fees. This requirement is revoked nowadays, but patients commonly refer to the UCS’ original name “30-baht healthcare scheme.”
Usually, patients in all provinces beyond the piloted areas are required to visit their registry hospitals first before they can transfer to other hospitals. This inconvenience has discouraged many patients from seeking health services, especially if they live far from the hospitals or migrate out of their home provinces.
The pilot aims to reform the national health security system by syncing and sharing health data across multiple hospitals and clinics. It will allow UCS beneficiaries to request health services in any health unit registered under the UC scheme. To get the services, they only need to show their identification card at the chosen health facility.
The Public Health Minister, Dr Cholnan Srikaew said that the phase-one pilot was launched on January 7 and received positive responses from all stakeholders as it was a crucial step in transforming the Thai health system.
It has successfully established a service environment with partnerships with 541 private health units, such as medical and dental clinics and pharmacies. The number surpasses the initial target of 478 units.
This partnership has facilitated greater accessibility to primary healthcare for patients, accelerating the adoption of digital technologies such as data integration across all systems for timely reimbursement by using artificial intelligence for pre-audit and utilizing identity verification systems after service completion.
These efforts have enabled over 70% of service units in the four piloted provinces to receive payments from the NHSO within three days while preventing transaction errors.
According to data from January 7 to February 17, the NHSO disbursed service payments totaling 71.56 million baht to health units
Additionally, a monitoring system has been developed to prevent patients from duplicating health service requests in multiple hospitals within the same day, commonly referred to as 'shopping around’.
The NHSO has collaborated with Provincial and District Public Health Offices to establish mechanisms for efficient service access and enhance standard quality.
"Moving forward, we aim to expand the pilot to eight other provinces before expanding it nationwide by the end of this year," said Dr Cholnan.
"As for entering phase two of the pilot, we organized a workshop in early February with the representatives from the first four pilot provinces meeting those from the new eight targeted provinces.
We’ve also prepared operational plans. I am confident that the eight provinces are ready to administrate the pilot. Phase two will be kick off in Nakhon Ratchasima around the beginning of March.”
NHSO’s Secretary-General Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, clarified that there are 451 health units registered to partner with the NHSO in providing services in the eight provinces.
These include 281 pharmacies, 86 nursing clinics, 50 dental clinics, 12 physiotherapy clinics, eight medical clinics, five medical technical clinics, and four traditional Thai medicine clinics.
Breaking down the data by province, 205 of these health units are in Nakhon Ratchasima, 73 in Nakhon Sawan, 55 in Phetchabun, 35 in Sa Kaeo, 35 in Nong Bua Lamphu, 19 in Amnat Charoen, 16 in Phang Nga, and 13 in Sing Buri.
The NHSO conducted on-site visits throughout February working with medical professional organizations and provincial health officers to prepare and invite operators of private healthcare facilities to partner in the pilot.
Campaigned with the title “30-baht get treatment anywhere,” the phase-two pilot will expand into eight provinces from March 1 onward.
These provinces are Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Amnat Charoen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sing Buri, Phang Nga, and Sa Kaeo.
The expansion is a result of the NHSO board’s meeting on February 21, which acknowledged the positive outcomes of the phase-one pilot in four provinces - Phrae, Roi Et, Phetchaburi, and Narathiwat — leading to the expansion pilot’s coverage area into other provinces.
“30-bath” is another campaign name of the UCS, used when it was launched in 2002 when patients were required to pay 30 baht in contribution to the health service fees. This requirement is revoked nowadays, but patients commonly refer to the UCS’ original name “30-baht healthcare scheme.”
Usually, patients in all provinces beyond the piloted areas are required to visit their registry hospitals first before they can transfer to other hospitals. This inconvenience has discouraged many patients from seeking health services, especially if they live far from the hospitals or migrate out of their home provinces.
The pilot aims to reform the national health security system by syncing and sharing health data across multiple hospitals and clinics. It will allow UCS beneficiaries to request health services in any health unit registered under the UC scheme. To get the services, they only need to show their identification card at the chosen health facility.
The Public Health Minister, Dr Cholnan Srikaew said that the phase-one pilot was launched on January 7 and received positive responses from all stakeholders as it was a crucial step in transforming the Thai health system.
It has successfully established a service environment with partnerships with 541 private health units, such as medical and dental clinics and pharmacies. The number surpasses the initial target of 478 units.
This partnership has facilitated greater accessibility to primary healthcare for patients, accelerating the adoption of digital technologies such as data integration across all systems for timely reimbursement by using artificial intelligence for pre-audit and utilizing identity verification systems after service completion.
These efforts have enabled over 70% of service units in the four piloted provinces to receive payments from the NHSO within three days while preventing transaction errors.
According to data from January 7 to February 17, the NHSO disbursed service payments totaling 71.56 million baht to health units
Additionally, a monitoring system has been developed to prevent patients from duplicating health service requests in multiple hospitals within the same day, commonly referred to as 'shopping around’.
The NHSO has collaborated with Provincial and District Public Health Offices to establish mechanisms for efficient service access and enhance standard quality.
"Moving forward, we aim to expand the pilot to eight other provinces before expanding it nationwide by the end of this year," said Dr Cholnan.
"As for entering phase two of the pilot, we organized a workshop in early February with the representatives from the first four pilot provinces meeting those from the new eight targeted provinces.
We’ve also prepared operational plans. I am confident that the eight provinces are ready to administrate the pilot. Phase two will be kick off in Nakhon Ratchasima around the beginning of March.”
NHSO’s Secretary-General Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, clarified that there are 451 health units registered to partner with the NHSO in providing services in the eight provinces.
These include 281 pharmacies, 86 nursing clinics, 50 dental clinics, 12 physiotherapy clinics, eight medical clinics, five medical technical clinics, and four traditional Thai medicine clinics.
Breaking down the data by province, 205 of these health units are in Nakhon Ratchasima, 73 in Nakhon Sawan, 55 in Phetchabun, 35 in Sa Kaeo, 35 in Nong Bua Lamphu, 19 in Amnat Charoen, 16 in Phang Nga, and 13 in Sing Buri.
The NHSO conducted on-site visits throughout February working with medical professional organizations and provincial health officers to prepare and invite operators of private healthcare facilities to partner in the pilot.
