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dc.contributor.authorThoresen, Stian
dc.contributor.authorFielding, Angela
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T12:37:56Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T12:37:56Z
dc.date.created2011-03-28T20:02:01Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.identifier.citationThoresen, Stian H. and Fielding, Angela. 2010. Universal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce. Health Policy. 99 (1): pp. 17-22.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23550
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.07.010
dc.description.abstract

Objective. To investigate the impact of the universal health care policy from the perspective of Thai health care professionals. Methods. Semi-structured interviews with purposively selected health care professionals and key informants. Results. Health care professionals at public hospitals, particularly in rural areas, have experienced up to a doubling in the number of daily out-patients; many with superficial symptoms. While the improved access to health care provisions was welcomed, questions regarding the appropriateness of seeking medical advice were raised. Concern regarding equity: between the universal health care policy and two parallel public health cover schemes; rural and urban areas; and the public and private sector also emerged. There are potentials for health care professionals to congregate in the private sector and urban areas where workloads are perceived to be less demanding.Conclusions. The general perception of the health care professionals interviewed suggests that although increased access and health equity was welcomed, this policy has had undesired effects and exacerbated rural-urban and public-private tensions. Universal coverage increased access to health care. However, equity may be further enhanced by consolidating the three public health covers into a single scheme and develop a parallel private income protection insurance scheme.

dc.publisherElsevier Ireland Ltd
dc.subjectThailand
dc.subjectAttitude of health personnel
dc.subjectUniversal coverage
dc.subjectHealth policy
dc.subjectHealth manpower
dc.titleUniversal health care in Thailand: Concerns among the health care workforce
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume99
dcterms.source.number1
dcterms.source.startPage17
dcterms.source.endPage22
dcterms.source.issn01688510
dcterms.source.titleHealth Policy
curtin.note

NOTICE: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Health Policy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Health Policy [99, 1, 2011] DOI 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.07.010

curtin.departmentSchool of Occupational Therapy and Social Work
curtin.accessStatusOpen access


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