Analysis of medical fee for cupping therapy in service units under the Ministry of Public Health

Abstract

Cupping therapy is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) procedure. According to a report, 104,517 patients received TCM manipulation services in service units under the Ministry of Public Health in 2023. However, there hasn't been a systematic study on the medical fees for cupping therapy. This current analysis of medical fee for cupping therapy in service units under the Ministry of Public Health was conducted using a descriptive statistic approach. The results showed that the labor cost was 191.2 baht/session, the material cost was 48.23 baht/session, the equipment/building cost (Capital Cost) was 18.98 baht/session, the direct cost was 258.41 baht/session, the indirect cost was 51.68 baht/session, the total cost was 310.09 baht/session, the future development cost was 77.52 baht/session, and the cupping therapy medical fee was 387.61 baht/session. Currently, according to the Notification of Public Health medical fee rates of service units under the Ministry of Public Health for Thai People in B.E. 2562, the medical fee for cupping is 200 baht/session. However, the analyzed medical fee is 187.61 baht/session higher, or 93.81%. This indicates that the medical fee for cupping as announced in the notification is not in line with the analyzed rate. This may affect the financial management of the service units. Therefore, it is necessary to consider adjusting the medical fee for cupping in service units under the Ministry of Public Health.