Cross-country run by ‘Toon’ highlights mountain of financial problems facing hospitals

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

Photo from: facebook.com/kaokonlakao/

 

AFTER THE famous rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai announced that he would run across the country to raise donations for 11 large hospitals that lack the proper medical equipment, public-health experts have warned that the stunt was just a short-term solution that would not solve the problem at it root.

Economists have also stated that the general public must express their determination to receive better health services so that the government prioritises healthcare and provides more funding.

 

Artiwara, who fronts the band Bodyslam, intends to raise more than Bt700 million from his 2,191-kilometre run from Thailand’s southernmost point in Yala’s Betong district to the northernmost tip in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. He plans to start running on November 1.

 

The hospitals that will receive donations are Yala Hospital, Surat Thani Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Chao Phraya Yommarat Hospital, Saraburi Hospital, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Nan Hospital, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital and Nakornping Hospital.

 

 

However, Viroj Na Ranong, research director of health economics at the Thailand Development Research Institute, said financial problems in the public-health system were nothing new, but donations were not the answer.

 

“A good healthcare system cannot rely on donations. It is not a sustainable way to mobilise the system. We still need more money to provide for public health,” Viroj said.

 

He added that the central public-health fund was insufficient to provide quality healthcare, giving the example of the Universal Health Coverage scheme, which he said needed double its current funding to provide quality, sustainable healthcare services.

 

Viroj concluded that the public must express their determination for quality public healthcare, if they really wanted an improvement. He added that issues affecting the healthcare system were still not on the public agenda and he did not expect the military government to prioritise social welfare rather than defence.

 

“People have to make it clear that they want good healthcare to drive this agenda and encourage the government to better manage the country’s budget. Moreover, people also have to be willing to pay more taxes for better healthcare,” he said.

In fiscal year 2017-18, the Public Health Ministry will receive Bt136.17 billion from taxpayers, which places it outside the top five government agencies receiving the highest budgets.

 

 

A former director of Koh Lanta Hospital and administrator of the Facebook fanpage “Drama Addict”, Dr Withawat Siriprachai also said the funding shortage in the healthcare system was very severe and there should be a more sustainable approach to solve the problem for good.

 

“I admire the good intentions of Toon to raise donations for the hospitals, as many have suffered very badly from the lack of good medical equipment and overcrowding, while they cannot request more funding from the government,” Withawat said.

 

 

While many hospitals heavily rely on donations, Withawat said that was just a temporary patch for the chronic lack of funding.

 

“I wish this campaign will ignite the public awareness about this problem in our healthcare system and initiate change,” he said.

 

Withawat said the healthcare system was facing a deficit due to the high volume of patients, so he suggested that people take good care of themselves, which could decrease the burden on the public-health system in the long run.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30329333

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-16

The majority of the Thai people relying on government healthcare pay no taxes!!

There seems to be enough budget to increase the defense budget every year, maybe the government needs to prioritize better.

16 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

There seems to be enough budget to increase the defense budget every year, maybe the government needs to prioritize better.

You are right of course.. but previous goverments also seem to have dropped the ball. Besides the health budget has increased every time, sometimes more in % then the defense budget.

In 2016 to 2017 Defense 3,44% up  Health 6,1% up

In 2017 to 2018 Defense 4,2% up health 3,8% up

 

In total health 9,9% up and defense 7,6% up... So it looks like the junta is increasing it faster than the defense budget.

 

But no goverment has yet funded the health budget enough because such a free scheme is real expensive and Thailand has a small tax base. Popular policies are one thing but structural solutions have not been implement by either democratic governments or the junta. Bit unfair to blame them while they raise the health budget more then the defense budget and previous governments have not cared either. 

quote " public-health experts have warned that the stunt was just a short-term solution that would not solve the problem at it root."    

 

I wonder how many of those public-health experts have ever got out of their comfortable chairs in their air conditioned offices, found sponsors and joined in the run.

 

perhaps they are more used to going to endless meetings, talking for hours, producing mountains of paperwork and achieving nothing, all on expenses of course.

 

I admire "Toon" for what he is doing and I only wish that I could do something similar, but my body is long past its best before date as I am 73 years old.

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

quote " public-health experts have warned that the stunt was just a short-term solution that would not solve the problem at it root."    

 

I wonder how many of those public-health experts have ever got out of their comfortable chairs in their air conditioned offices, found sponsors and joined in the run.

 

perhaps they are more used to going to endless meetings, talking for hours, producing mountains of paperwork and achieving nothing, all on expenses of course.

 

I admire "Toon" for what he is doing and I only wish that I could do something similar, but my body is long past its best before date as I am 73 years old.

The only structural thing they can do is either cut cost (doubt that that is still possible) or fund it better.. but its never popular as you don't score direct points with the voters that way. Its nicer to set up something new instead of improving on something that exists and improvement will probably not been seen as an accomplishment of a goverment.

Face it.. its what its all about doing something for the populace so they vote for you.. and extra money in the health budget (where does it have to come form) is not easy to find and not sexy.

 

It would probably mean raising more taxes (never popular).