Moving towards medical self-sustainability while concurrently conserving expenses, Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) has come up with an innovative solution.

 

The NHSO has launched a new, locally made prosthetic fistula prepared from natural rubber for those participating in the Universal Healthcare (UHC) programme, also commonly referred to as the “gold card” scheme. This new initiative aims at reducing the medical budget, potentially saving over 540 million baht.

 

A visit was made by Athaporn Limpanylers, the deputy secretary-general of the NHSO, to inspect these fistulas that would be provided to UHC participants in Yala and Songkhla. The inspection took place over two days, from July 18 to 19.

This prosthetic fistula’s creation was spearheaded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and was brought to Athaporn’s attention by Worawit Wanichsuwan, the leading research expert at the Medical Institute of Prince of Songkla University (PSU). The process, which used natural rubber sourced from the country’s southern region, took approximately six years to complete. Worawit points out that the decision to use the south’s natural rubber was a direct consequence of the compatibility of the regional environment and climate.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-nhso-launches-homegrown-rubber-prosthetic-fistula-expects-540m-baht-savings

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-08-02

 

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prosthetic fistula prepared from natural rubber

I'm sorry, I have a dirty mind. But the mental imagery..

The article does not explain what the medical application of the device is. 

There are 54000 patients each requiring five sets, so which internal fistula does it replace?

 

They look very very similar to the Colostomy bag I wore for a few months earlier this year.