UCS beneficiaries get rehabilitation from private clinics

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) partners with private clinics across Thailand to offer free physical rehabilitation to Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) beneficiaries.

The partnership targets patients with four types of diseases or injuries — stroke, fragility hip fracture, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury.
   
The NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadej Thammatacharee said that physical rehabilitation is a pivotal component  in the recovery process of patients, especially for those transitioning from the critical phase of severe injury or illness. 


To restore the functions of their limbs, they require intermediate care and regular rehabilitation during the first three to six months of recovery. 

However, numerous  patients experience long queues at public hospitals as rehabilitation services are in high demand. 

Long-distance commuting to the hospital is another barrier that prevents patients from maintaining consistent hospital visits and increases the risks of patients developing with permanent disabilities. 

To tackle these challenges, the NHSO involves private clinics in providing physical rehabilitation to UCS beneficiaries.  

Nearly 60 clinics have joined the partnership since its launch in January 2021. Their locations are easily accessible, encouraging patients to revisit the clinics for regular rehabilitation sessions. 


Dr Jadej said that the public hospitals overseeing the patients will contact the clinics' staff and transfer patients to their care after the patients go through the critical stage. 



The NHSO sets the guideline for ensuring quality services, which assure patients that they will receive care conforming to best practice standards. 

Each patient will join no more than 20 sessions of intensive rehabilitation during the early phase of recovery.

“This partnership relies on the network of public and private healthcare providers. It has benefits the patients as they can access rehabilitation conveniently,” said Dr Jadej.


“It also reduces hospital crowding and workload of hospital staff, allowing them to concentrate emergency cases.” 

However, only 10% of 800 rehabilitation clinics participates in the partnership since it launched two and a half years ago.

The NHSO has extended invitations  more private clinics to participate. 

The UCS covers 47 million people in Thailand.


Due to the increasing demand for healthcare services, public-private partnership is a crucial strategy to mobilize resources from the private sector into the national health security system.

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