Civil societies as the providers in area-based health promotion services under the universal health coverage, Thailand

Main Article Content

Yupadee Sirisinsuk
Usawadee Sutapuk

Abstract

Thailand’s National Health Security Act promoted a participatory process of civil society organizations (CSOs) by granting funds to provide health promotion and disease prevention (P&P) services in the community. This qualitative research aimed to elaborate CSOs’ participating roles and obstacles in providing P&P services and gave recommendations to improve the CSOs’ roles. The research methods included documentary research, in-depth interview, and focus group discussions. The study revealed that in 2020, twenty-one CSOs received a budget for a total value of 9.1 million baht, which was 3.8% of the total area-based fund. Moreover, 1,724 million baht, or 36.18% of the total community-based fund, was granted to CSOs under 75,698 community-based projects. As a result, people gained more access to the services, especially those whose regular service providers were unable to provide. However, it was found that the area-based budget was allocated for CSOs in a very small proportion. This was due to the issues in attitudes and mistrust in CSOs’ capabilities and the lack of clear criteria for budget approval. Therefore, it was a challenge to earnestly promote the participation of civil society in  P&P activities in all the areas of Thailand.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Sirisinsuk Y, Sutapuk U. Civil societies as the providers in area-based health promotion services under the universal health coverage, Thailand. J Public Hlth Dev [Internet]. 2021 May 20 [cited 2024 Oct. 14];19(2):77-88. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/AIHD-MU/article/view/249675
Section
Original Articles
Author Biographies

Yupadee Sirisinsuk, Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

1Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

Usawadee Sutapuk, Faculty of Pharmacy, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Faculty of Pharmacy, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

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