Pressure’s on: High blood pressure tops Thailand’s health charts
High blood pressure has muscled its way to the top of the health pile, becoming the most common condition treated under Thailand’s universal healthcare services in 2023. That’s the latest from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), which has revealed the nation’s pulse.
NHSO’s top doc, Jadet Thammathataree, spilt the beans on an eye-watering 99.7 billion baht budget allocated for the fiscal year 2023, set aside to care for the 47.727 million Thais who qualify for the gold card scheme. That adds up to a tidy sum of 3,385.98 baht per person.
Breaking it down, 1,344.40 baht went to outpatient services, with inpatient care costing 1,477.01 baht per head. The gold card scheme, affectionately dubbed the gold card service, was a hive of activity with a whopping 170.39 million outpatient visits in 2023. That’s a sharp rise to 3.63 visits per person per year, up from just 2.45 when the scheme kick-started in ’03!
The outpatient top 10 is a who’s who of health woes: high blood pressure, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, lipoprotein metabolism issues, flu, chronic renal failure, soft tissue bothers, tooth decay, indigestion, muscle niggles, gingivitis and periodontitis took the spotlight.
In the realm of inpatient care, 6.09 million visits were clocked under the scheme—leaps and bounds from 4.30 million in those early years. Bangkok Post reported that patients mostly grappled with gastritis, pneumonia, kidney troubles, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, thalassemia, cerebral infarction, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and urinary hiccups.
“This data reflects people’s access to comprehensive and widespread treatment, which reduces financial burdens,” said Jadet. “Furthermore, it is crucial public health information and empirical data that can be used in healthcare promotion and disease prevention campaigns to lessen illnesses in the future.”
The statistics don’t just paint a picture of the scheme’s ever-expanding reach, they signal the shifting landscape of health challenges confronting Thais en masse. It’s a loud and clear call for ramped-up healthcare promotion and preventive strategies to nip these health grievances in the bud.
What Other Media Are Saying
- WHO Report highlights hypertension’s devastating global impact, emphasizing inadequate treatment and the potential to avert 76 million deaths by scaling up coverage and implementing low-cost management programs. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why has high blood pressure become the leading condition in Thailand’s healthcare system?
Lifestyle changes, an ageing population, and increased health awareness might contribute to its prevalence.
How has Thailand’s universal healthcare scheme evolved since its inception?
The scheme has increased outpatient visits per person and expanded healthcare access for more citizens.
What if Thailand shifted more focus towards preventive healthcare measures?
It could potentially reduce the incidence of chronic diseases and decrease healthcare costs long term.
How does the gold card scheme impact healthcare affordability for Thai citizens?
It reduces financial burdens by providing widespread access to essential medical services.
Why is continuous healthcare promotion crucial for Thailand’s future health outcomes?
It helps address evolving health challenges and prevents the escalation of prevalent conditions.
