Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce
Objective. To investigate the impact of the universal health care policy from the perspective of Thai health care professionals. Methods. Semi-structured interviews with purposively selected health care professionals and key informants. Results. Health care professionals at public hospitals, particu...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
2010
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23550 |
| _version_ | 1848751182379483136 |
|---|---|
| author | Thoresen, Stian Fielding, Angela |
| author_facet | Thoresen, Stian Fielding, Angela |
| author_sort | Thoresen, Stian |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective. To investigate the impact of the universal health care policy from the perspective of Thai health care professionals. Methods. Semi-structured interviews with purposively selected health care professionals and key informants. Results. Health care professionals at public hospitals, particularly in rural areas, have experienced up to a doubling in the number of daily out-patients; many with superficial symptoms. While the improved access to health care provisions was welcomed, questions regarding the appropriateness of seeking medical advice were raised. Concern regarding equity: between the universal health care policy and two parallel public health cover schemes; rural and urban areas; and the public and private sector also emerged. There are potentials for health care professionals to congregate in the private sector and urban areas where workloads are perceived to be less demanding.Conclusions. The general perception of the health care professionals interviewed suggests that although increased access and health equity was welcomed, this policy has had undesired effects and exacerbated rural-urban and public-private tensions. Universal coverage increased access to health care. However, equity may be further enhanced by consolidating the three public health covers into a single scheme and develop a parallel private income protection insurance scheme. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:48:40Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-23550 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:48:40Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publisher | Elsevier Ireland Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-235502019-02-19T04:27:23Z Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce Thoresen, Stian Fielding, Angela Thailand Attitude of health personnel Universal coverage Health policy Health manpower Objective. To investigate the impact of the universal health care policy from the perspective of Thai health care professionals. Methods. Semi-structured interviews with purposively selected health care professionals and key informants. Results. Health care professionals at public hospitals, particularly in rural areas, have experienced up to a doubling in the number of daily out-patients; many with superficial symptoms. While the improved access to health care provisions was welcomed, questions regarding the appropriateness of seeking medical advice were raised. Concern regarding equity: between the universal health care policy and two parallel public health cover schemes; rural and urban areas; and the public and private sector also emerged. There are potentials for health care professionals to congregate in the private sector and urban areas where workloads are perceived to be less demanding.Conclusions. The general perception of the health care professionals interviewed suggests that although increased access and health equity was welcomed, this policy has had undesired effects and exacerbated rural-urban and public-private tensions. Universal coverage increased access to health care. However, equity may be further enhanced by consolidating the three public health covers into a single scheme and develop a parallel private income protection insurance scheme. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23550 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.07.010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Thailand Attitude of health personnel Universal coverage Health policy Health manpower Thoresen, Stian Fielding, Angela Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce |
| title | Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce |
| title_full | Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce |
| title_fullStr | Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce |
| title_full_unstemmed | Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce |
| title_short | Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce |
| title_sort | universal health care in thailand: concerns among the health care workforce |
| topic | Thailand Attitude of health personnel Universal coverage Health policy Health manpower |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23550 |