Thai Govt Urged To Get Ready For Ageing Population

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Govt urged to get ready for ageing population

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The government should start setting up community clinics, special nursing homes and fasttrack medical services in order to deal with the rapidly ageing population, health experts said yesterday. Thailand is expected to have 20 million elderly people in the next 40 years.

Healthcare spending on the elderly is expected to rise from 34 per cent to 37 per cent of the total expenditure on healthcare in the next decade, due mainly to the increase in the price of medication and medical equipment.

According to a survey of the services for the elderly currently being provided by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the Health Insurance System Research Office's deputy director Dr Thaworn Sakunphanit said that only 2 million people had access to the services. Of them, about 100,000 been diagnosed with diabetes and 450,000 with highblood pressure.

"We estimate that more than 3 million of the elderly still don't know that they have diabetes, while 1.4 million don't know they might have highblood pressure," Thaworn said, adding that diabetes and highblood pressure were the main causes of chronic conditions like heart disease and paralysis.

Speaking at a seminar on the "inequity of medical services in the country's three healthcare schemes" held by the Foundation of Thai Gerontology Research and Development, Thaworn said that over the past year, the NHSO had provided influenza vaccine to just 1.7 million elderly people to protect them from pneumonia. However, the vaccine programme should have covered the entire population of elderly people, which stands at more than 7 million across the country.

To provide appropriate healthcare and emergency treatment services for the elderly, the government needs to set up community clinics, nursing homes and fasttrack medical outlets to provide immediate care, he said.

Suvipa Sukvanichnant from the ComptrollerGeneral's Department said the agency was planning to improve medical benefits for civil servants and their family members and give them access to annual health checkups and longterm care to improve the quality of their lives when they get old.

-- The Nation 2011-05-13

[jaltsc]

One way they can cut down on medical expenses for the elderly is to educate the populace about the effects of smoking tobacco and ACTUALLY enforce the no smoking laws in public places. Second hand smoke probably contributes to more deaths than any other cause besides accidents. However, that would mean that the doctors would have to stop smoking, so they can set a good example. In the future, the government will be paying more money to care for lung cancer patients than they are now collecting in tobacco profits. Something to think about.

[rreddin]

One way they can cut down on medical expenses for the elderly is to educate the populace about the effects of smoking tobacco and ACTUALLY enforce the no smoking laws in public places. Second hand smoke probably contributes to more deaths than any other cause besides accidents. However, that would mean that the doctors would have to stop smoking, so they can set a good example. In the future, the government will be paying more money to care for lung cancer patients than they are now collecting in tobacco profits. Something to think about.

You are right, it is something to think about and it will be thought about. Having thought about it, the government (whichever party or coalition is in power) will do nothing. Providing health care for an ageing population is not a political issue nor is it yet a priority. The attitude seems to be that the wealthy can afford to pay for medical care and it is cheaper to let the poor die from conditions they did not even know they had.

[Mosha]

Interesting to see how they cope with the growth in dementia and Alzheimers, that will surely acompany this growth in numbers.

[fatfather]

One way they can cut down on medical expenses for the elderly is to educate the populace about the effects of smoking tobacco and ACTUALLY enforce the no smoking laws in public places. Second hand smoke probably contributes to more deaths than any other cause besides accidents. However, that would mean that the doctors would have to stop smoking, so they can set a good example. In the future, the government will be paying more money to care for lung cancer patients than they are now collecting in tobacco profits. Something to think about.

Smoking would slow down the growth of an aging population, because smokers are supposed to die earlier. Let people smoke if they like.

fatfather

[slapout]

Many of the newspaper editorials, opinions, etc, bring up the question. Are these writers, Thai residents, with any sense of this countries perchance for long term planning? The growing population of the elderly is taking place in spite of the inaction/ actions of prior/current Thai governments. The care of this group seems to be a part of the local philosophy of, the children take care/support by whatever means, thus giving the desired end result (extended longevity). The local medical facilities (government sponsored) are regarded by many locals, "as where you go to die".

In the rural areas of Thailand, smoking, local whiskey, chewing of various stimulants, etc, have not stopped the old folks from being a part of the scene, nor have the 30 baht and more recent medical ideas seem to have offset the creep to longer life. They have had childhood vaccinations, eat healthy and still get adequate exercise. They self medicate for minor illnesses, go to the magic person, or a pharmacy if they deem it serious. In many cases the latter, gets them adequately medicated and they are not exposed to so many other sick people. The final step seems to be the local hospital where they are admitted or sent home, with the same end result.

[johna]

In a study done in Europe it was found that smokers having a shorter life span than non smokers, cost society less in health care and pensions

[slapout]

Many of the newspaper editorials, opinions, etc, bring up the question. Are these writers, Thai residents, with any sense of this countries perchance for long term planning? The growing population of the elderly is taking place in spite of the inaction/ actions of prior/current Thai governments. The care of this group seems to be a part of the local philosophy of, the children take care/support by whatever means, thus giving the desired end result (extended longevity). The local medical facilities (government sponsored) are regarded by many locals, "as where you go to die".

In the rural areas of Thailand, smoking, local whiskey, chewing of various stimulants, etc, have not stopped the old folks from being a part of the scene, nor have the 30 baht and more recent medical ideas seem to have offset the creep to longer life. They have had childhood vaccinations, eat healthy and still get adequate exercise. They self medicate for minor illnesses, go to the magic person, or a pharmacy if they deem it serious. In many cases the latter, gets them adequately medicated and they are not exposed to so many other sick people. The final step seems to be the local hospital where they are admitted or sent home, with the same end result.

[Orac]

This is a problem for most countries in the world, especially those with large welfare systems and will become more acute as time goes on.

[jimbeam1]

We estimate that more than 3mil elderly don't know that they have Diabetes. While 1.4 mil know that they might have high blood pressure. Well Isn't it about time that they reached out to the people and started a screening programme. Or is this just what they don't want?

Also a massive advertising programme + educating the future generations in schools of the use of sugar and MSG, both of which Thais use in abundance. I have virtually had to stop eating out, because of the amounts that they use.

jb1