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UCS elevated Throughout 2023
A recent report revealed the positive outcomes of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2023. These include the introduction of new health benefits and the launch of new initiatives that improve healthcare access.
On February 21, the National Health Security Office Board (NHSB) met to discuss a report on the operation of the UCS in the fiscal year 2023.
Presented by the NHSO deputy secretary-general, Dr Lalitaya Kongkam, the report addressed the UCS’s outputs and outcomes that reflect its benefit in enhancing Thai people’s access to healthcare.
The Public Health Minister and chairman of the NHSB, Dr Cholnan Srikaew explained that the report will be presented in the cabinet meeting to ensure transparency and accountability in the NHSO’s operation.
Currently, the UCS covers healthcare for more than 47 million people in Thailand, providing comprehensive and quality healthcare services.
Healthcare services and digital health have been elevated, including the policy that allows Thai people to access primary care in any health unit regardless of their registry hospitals. Known as “outpatient anywhere,” this policy utilized over 1.81 million visits by over 990,000 people in 3,635 healthcare units last year.
"Inpatient anywhere" is another initiative that enhances patient convenience by allowing them to transfer between hospitals without carrying paper-based documents as proof. It facilitated over two million transfers, accounting for 35% of all inpatient services.
"Cancer Anywhere" supported over 1.63 million paperless inter-hospital referrals across 191 healthcare units.
Additionally, UCS beneficiaries could immediately switch registry healthcare units without waiting 15 days to complete the process — resulting in over 585,000 switches, constituting 29% of the total.
"Many new health benefits were also introduced in the UCS. They included Hepatitis B virus screening for pregnant women, thalassemia and syphilis screening for partners of pregnant women, and HIV self-testing," said Dr Cholnan.
"The other benefits included BRCA1/BRCA2 gene screening in high-risk breast cancer patients, hearing impairment screening, metabolic genetic disorders screening in newborns, and dental implants for those losing teeth."
He added that the NHSO was able to upgrade the UCS through collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, healthcare units, and health networks nationwide in 2023.
It provides healthcare access at any entry point with a single identification card while integrating innovations and digital health to make healthcare services more accessible, reduce hospital overcrowding and waiting times, and ensure cost-effectiveness in healthcare spending.
Some of these upgrades include:
The overall initiatives increased outpatient visits from 167.37 million in 2022 to 170.39 million in 2023. HIV prevention services were provided to 3.54 million individuals in 2023, rising from 1.98 million in the previous year.
Treatments for over 10,000 patients living with chronic kidney disease increased, and an additional 134,000 bedridden patients received care. NHSO Secretary-General Dr Jadej Thammatacharee said his organization remained committed to driving the UCS, which allows patients to access healthcare everywhere with a single identification card.
This involved linking information systems, using artificial intelligence to monitor healthcare fee reimbursement, and managing large-scale data to support policy decisions.
In addition, the NHSO has committed to strengthening primary healthcare through social innovation and digital technology while empowering individuals to take care of their health.
Dr Jadej emphasized the need to enhance community participation in caring for people with disabilities and the health system as a whole, protect people’s rights to health, ensure a sustainable and resilient health system, and promote Thai traditional medicines.
"One thing that further confirms the UCS’s positive outcomes is the increasing satisfaction among the people, service providers, and communities," he said.
"The NHSO, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, healthcare units, and health networks will continue to ensure a better quality of life for the people."
On February 21, the National Health Security Office Board (NHSB) met to discuss a report on the operation of the UCS in the fiscal year 2023.
Presented by the NHSO deputy secretary-general, Dr Lalitaya Kongkam, the report addressed the UCS’s outputs and outcomes that reflect its benefit in enhancing Thai people’s access to healthcare.
The Public Health Minister and chairman of the NHSB, Dr Cholnan Srikaew explained that the report will be presented in the cabinet meeting to ensure transparency and accountability in the NHSO’s operation.
Currently, the UCS covers healthcare for more than 47 million people in Thailand, providing comprehensive and quality healthcare services.
Healthcare services and digital health have been elevated, including the policy that allows Thai people to access primary care in any health unit regardless of their registry hospitals. Known as “outpatient anywhere,” this policy utilized over 1.81 million visits by over 990,000 people in 3,635 healthcare units last year.
"Inpatient anywhere" is another initiative that enhances patient convenience by allowing them to transfer between hospitals without carrying paper-based documents as proof. It facilitated over two million transfers, accounting for 35% of all inpatient services.
"Cancer Anywhere" supported over 1.63 million paperless inter-hospital referrals across 191 healthcare units.
Additionally, UCS beneficiaries could immediately switch registry healthcare units without waiting 15 days to complete the process — resulting in over 585,000 switches, constituting 29% of the total.
"Many new health benefits were also introduced in the UCS. They included Hepatitis B virus screening for pregnant women, thalassemia and syphilis screening for partners of pregnant women, and HIV self-testing," said Dr Cholnan.
"The other benefits included BRCA1/BRCA2 gene screening in high-risk breast cancer patients, hearing impairment screening, metabolic genetic disorders screening in newborns, and dental implants for those losing teeth."
He added that the NHSO was able to upgrade the UCS through collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, healthcare units, and health networks nationwide in 2023.
It provides healthcare access at any entry point with a single identification card while integrating innovations and digital health to make healthcare services more accessible, reduce hospital overcrowding and waiting times, and ensure cost-effectiveness in healthcare spending.
Some of these upgrades include:
- ● The partnership with "quality drugstores" where pharmacists provide consultation for 16 minor illnesses and health promotion and disease prevention services.
- ● Delivery of medicines and medical supplies via postal service to patients.
- ● Blood sampling and laboratory testing services outside healthcare units.
- ● Access to nursing and maternity care services and physiotherapy via private-run clinics.
- ● Support for mental health hotline service 1323 and smoking cessation hotline service 1600.
- ● Support telemedicine services for monitoring patients with non-communicable diseases.
- ● The launch of remote medical consultations and monitoring for 42 disease groups in Bangkok and its metropolitan areas.
- ● Enhancement of home-based patient care services.
The overall initiatives increased outpatient visits from 167.37 million in 2022 to 170.39 million in 2023. HIV prevention services were provided to 3.54 million individuals in 2023, rising from 1.98 million in the previous year.
Treatments for over 10,000 patients living with chronic kidney disease increased, and an additional 134,000 bedridden patients received care. NHSO Secretary-General Dr Jadej Thammatacharee said his organization remained committed to driving the UCS, which allows patients to access healthcare everywhere with a single identification card.
This involved linking information systems, using artificial intelligence to monitor healthcare fee reimbursement, and managing large-scale data to support policy decisions.
In addition, the NHSO has committed to strengthening primary healthcare through social innovation and digital technology while empowering individuals to take care of their health.
Dr Jadej emphasized the need to enhance community participation in caring for people with disabilities and the health system as a whole, protect people’s rights to health, ensure a sustainable and resilient health system, and promote Thai traditional medicines.
"One thing that further confirms the UCS’s positive outcomes is the increasing satisfaction among the people, service providers, and communities," he said.
"The NHSO, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, healthcare units, and health networks will continue to ensure a better quality of life for the people."
