Universal healthcare failing most vulnerable

[rooster59]

Universal healthcare failing most vulnerable

By PUANGCHUMPOO PRASERT
THE NATION

 

Dr Samrit

 

MARGINALISED people in rural areas who do not have sufficient access to medical care and lack the opportunity to get good quality health services are among the most vulnerable people in Thailand, a recent study has revealed.

 

Dr Samrit Srithamrongsawat, a community health researcher from Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, announced the findings during a focus group seminar on universal health coverage, as part of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2017. 

 

He said the study, sponsored by the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), investigated community health projects for vulnerable groups in Umphang in Tak, Ubolrat in Khon Kaen, Dansai in Loei, Khon Buri in Nakhon Ratchasima, Kuchinarai in Kalasin, Lam Sonthi in Lop Buri, Kongra in Phatthalung and Khlong Klung in Kamphaeng Phet.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30305638

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-04

[selftaopath]

We live in rural Isaan. The stories I hear a/b people's experiences re: public service hospitals is mind-boggling, and certainly might not be considered medical services. 

[thai3]

Paracetamol for leukemia is not health care

[maoro2013]

Does not appear to be mind boggling research.

[jaltsc]

"Vulnerable people still cannot access what the state provides through this policy..." 

In many, if not most cases, it wouldn't matter much, since a lot of medical care does not come close to being adequate. One example, I fractured my arm a few years back. I went to the local hospital for x-rays and treatment. The person reading the x-ray (definitely not a radiologist) looked at the cloudy film and told me that there was no break in my humorous. I looked at the x-ray and pointed out the definite line indicating the fracture. 

 

Then I saw a doctor (At least that's what her name tag indicated). She started applying a cast, and I asked her to put more padding around my arm since the cast needed more of a moisture barrier, so it wouldn't break apart. She told me it didn't need it. I came back in 2 days with the cast disintegrated. I asked her to apply more padding, which she replied: "Not bad cast. Farang arm different than Thai arm. Need to go to city hospital 3 hours away . They have special farang plaster there." 

 

I asked for another doctor, who did apply more padding and, lo and behold, the cast lasted for the 6 weeks needed for the fracture to heal. 

 

Perhaps not having access to a local rural doctor would result in a better outcome.

[Thaiwrath]

1 hour ago, selftaopath said:

We live in rural Isaan. The stories I hear a/b people's experiences re: public service hospitals is mind-boggling, and certainly might not be considered medical services. 

I use the Government hospitals, and I find them to be an excellent service.

Bear in mind that 90% of qualified doctors practice both in Government hospitals as well as private hospitals. 

[chainarong]

It was introduced originally with the view of expanding and making it a sound scheme , the whole Idea was it's a start then lets run with it, however you cannot have two Coups and expect the least well off to be catered for, there's submarines, tanks,  extra two hundred thousand conscripts , single gateways, manipulating the media, section 44, reconciliation, high speed trains and chasing students and a drought coming up, etc to worry about....................................

[maewang99]

someone says they are the same doctors.... and he uses a government hospital.  ummm....

doesn't mention WHERE....
it could be Chiangmai for all we know... which is not what this article is about AT ALL....

or WHO he is....
he might just be a farlang... and waggles Civil Service level care without for even the asking... instead of Soc Sec care or.. as the article is about.. "free" coverage care.
 

and I am confused about the "same doctors" thing. what's that got to do with the whole health thing?  what about when t gets expensive and involves high tech stuff or narcotics.... i.e. scans. ?

 

[mick220675]

Most of the rural hospitals are there for basic treatments and first aid, more serious cases are sent to the larger province hospital. From my experience the rural hospitals are good for basic care but when I have been to the large city hospitals they are over crowded and under funded.

 

The real scandal is with mental health care, within 20 km from our home I know of 2 people who are kept on chains as there is no care available for them.

[nong38]

I think there are couple of things to say here. First with a military government what are the first priorities, military or civilian? Who do they think they are going to have a fight with locally, other members of ASEAN? Really need subs and Grippens to deal with threats?

Secondly, when ever I go to the local hospitals they are full of people who seem to be there more for a day out than they have something wrong with them, I could be mistaken of course but when things are free they get used because they are free, if they had to put down 100bts when they registered I doubt if there would be so many there.