Minister of Public Health explains to the parliament to accelerate the production of health rehabilitation specialists and physical therapists to support the care of NCD patients and bedridden elderly and prevent illnesses, emphasizing that the 30 baht universal healthcare scheme includes physical therapy expenses.
The reporter reported that the Senate meeting was chaired by Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, the President of the House of Representatives. During the general question period, Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, the Minister of Public Health, answered questions on the number of civil servant physical therapists, including the distribution of personnel to support the entry into the elderly society and the increase in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases. The question was asked by Mr. Thanthorn Thaninwattanathorn, MP for Bangkok, Prachachon Party, that from the problem of non-communicable chronic diseases that are increasing and bedridden patients, which require a direct care budget of up to 130 billion
baht per year and indirect care of up to 1.5 trillion baht, it is necessary to have enough physical therapists to care for patients and prepare them before they get sick. After taking office, he pushed for a strategic plan regarding personnel in the agency, especially the reform of personnel, for the Cabinet to consider. In addition, the Ministry of Public Health It was found that there were 13,000 physical therapists. Of these, 4,792 were found to be taking care of the public. The 10-year target is that one physical therapist must take care of 2,000 people. Therefore, production must be accelerated to be sufficient, i.e. 19,000 people, within the specified time frame, but it may not be in time.
‘We have a plan to produce one community health rehabilitation worker per district to be a community physical therapist assistant, using the budget from the provincial rehabilitation division. Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister, is aware of the problem and has ordered an urgent care. In addition, in Octo
ber, the Prime Minister will visit the area to observe the work of the caregiver unit to care for the elderly and study NCD patients. In addition, there is a policy to upgrade the village health volunteers in this matter and provide compensation as a morale booster,’ Mr. Somsak explained.
The Minister of Public Health further explained that for medical expenses under the NHSO’s rights under the 30-baht universal healthcare policy, patients with stroke, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and hip fractures in the elderly can receive physical therapy services at 450 baht per session, not exceeding 20 sessions per person. In the case of receiving services at home, the NHSO will pay an additional actual fee, not exceeding 200 baht per session. Civil servants can also claim the benefits. In addition, the hospital must have a rehabilitation center. At the same time, each region must have a specialized hospital. There is currently 1 in Lampang Province. Other regions are in the process of implementing this.
Mr.
Somsak also answered general questions on the issue of hospitals not being sufficient for the proportion of people using services in Bangkok, which was asked by Mr. Ekkarat Udom-Amnuay, MP for Bangkok, Prachachon Party, by emphasizing the development of the public health system and the creation of hospitals in various areas to be sufficient for the people’s services after the government announced the 30-baht policy to treat everywhere, but the implementation admitted that it would take time.
Source: Thai News Agency