Prevalence and profiles of unmet healthcare need in Thailand

Abstract

BackgroundIn the light of the universal healthcare coverage that was achieved in Thailand in 2002, policy makers have raised concerns about whether there is still unmet need within the population. Our objectives were to assess the annual prevalence, characteristics and reasons for unmet healthcare need in the Thai population in 2010 and to compare our findings with relevant international literature.MethodsA standard set of OECD unmet need questionnaires was used in a nationally-representative household survey conducted in 2010 by the National Statistical Office. The prevalence of unmet need among respondents with various socio-economic characteristics was estimated to determine an inequity in the unmet need and the reasons behind it.ResultsThe annual prevalence of unmet need for outpatient and inpatient services in 2010 was 1.4% and 0.4%, respectively. Despite this low prevalence, there are inequities with relatively higher proportion of the unmet need among Universal Coverage Scheme members, and the poor and rural populations. There was less unmet need due to cost than there was due to geographical barriers. The prevalence of unmet need due to cost and geographical barriers among the richest and poorest quintiles were comparable to those of selected OECD countries. The geographical extension of healthcare infrastructure and of the distribution of health workers is a major contributing factor to the low prevalence of unmet need.ConclusionsThe low prevalence of unmet need for both outpatient and inpatient services is a result of the availability of well-functioning health services at the most peripheral level, and of the comprehensive benefit package offered free of charge by all health insurance schemes. This assessment prompts a need for regular monitoring of unmet need in nationally-representative household surveys.

Knowledge of communicable and noncommunicable diseases among Karen ethnic high school students in rural Thasongyang, the far northwest of Thailand

“…Health inequalities and disparities in knowledge are common in minority populations 11. The current study’s findings clearly disclosed the need for promoting health knowledge among high school students of Karen ethnicity.…”

“…Moreover, geographically remote and rural areas are likely to suffer from inequality in many aspects of health care need 11. Situated at the northwestern-most edge of Thailand and populated by a Karen ethnic population, Thasongyang, a rural district and the site of our current study, is a good example of such an area facing inequality.…”

Universal coverage but unmet need: National and regional estimates of attrition across the diabetes care continuum in Thailand

“…Earlier studies presented very low levels of unmet health care need in Thailand, at less than two percent of the population, based on individual subjective assessment of personal illness and utilization need [19,20]. Given our 74.0% unmet need for only diabetes, we argue actual unmet health care need is much larger than previously reported, and requires objective assessment to complement subjective reports.…”

Unmet Healthcare Needs and Associated Factors in Rural Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Clarity of communication 7 (16) Waiting room 5 (12) Health services in general 5 (12) Information about treatment 4 (9) Involvement in decision making 4 (9) Room hygiene at health facilities 4 (9) Do not understand the need to see a doctor 3 (7) Time healthcare provider spent for you 3 (7) Freedom to choose healthcare provider 1…”