Research Shows That Thailand’s Healthcare System Is Managing Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases Such As Diabetes In An Excellent Manner
Source: Thailand Medical News Jan 16, 2020 4 years, 11 months, 5 days, 10 hours, 11 minutes ago
A variety of noncommunicable chronic diseases such as
diabetes are on the rise in
Thailand as the country transitions to a high-middle-income country.
A study by medical researchers from Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok identifies the strengths and weaknesses of
diabetes care in
Thailand's universal
healthcare system. Published in the journal
PLOS ONE, the study found that the majority of Thai adults with
diabetes were never diagnosed, but that most of those who were diagnosed did receive treatment and got the condition under control.
Dr. Andrew Stokes, Assistant Professor of global health at BUSPH and the study's corresponding author told
Thailand Medical News, "Our findings highlight both the achievements of
universal healthcare in
Thailand and also the opportunities that remain both on a national level and regionally to ensure that people living with
diabetes are integrated into care."
The medical researchers used data from the 2014 Thai National Health Examination Survey, which included both face-to-face interviews and a physical exam portion that collected blood samples after overnight fasting. Of the 15,663 Thai adults included in the study, 8.8% appeared to have
diabetes based on their blood samples and/or reporting being treated for
diabetes. Of those who appeared to have
diabetes, the researchers found that 67.0% reported ever being screened for
diabetes, 34.0% reported being diagnosed, 33.3% had been treated, and 26.0% had their
diabetes under control.
Study co-author Dr. Piya Hanvoravongchai, lecturer in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University further added, "
Thailand healthcare systems may have put emphasis on expanding coverage both in terms of population coverage and
healthcare benefit packages, which they did quite well with relatively low cost and limited resources. Nevertheless, this paper highlights the importance of improving the quality of care, especially primary care and public health promotion and disease prevention,"
The medical researchers found that living in areas with more medical staff and health centers, such as the south and central parts of
Thailand and in urban centers, as well as being older, made a patient more likely to be diagnosed and to have their
diabetes under control.
Study lead author Dr. Lily Yan, a resident at Boston Medical Center and a master of science student at BUSPH commented to Thailand
Medical News, "This suggests that investing in infrastructure in resource-scarce areas could have improved outcomes for
diabetes in
rong> Thailand. To address the gaps at screening and diagnosis, that might require also expanding efforts beyond the clinic into community settings where people could get tested for high blood sugar where they live and work, and then get linked with medical care. In order for health systems to intervene effectively, they have to first recognize that there is a problem."
Reference : Lily D. Yan et al, Universal coverage but unmet need: National and regional estimates of attrition across the diabetes care continuum in Thailand, PLOS ONE (2020). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226286
