New Normal of Medical Service Journey

Abstract

         For more than three decades, Thailand has adopted the concept of telemedicine services. Until now, the National Health Security Office has announced the benefits called New Normal of Medical Services. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to study the model of the digital health ecosystem and to monitor the new normal of medicine services. There are two studies in this research consist of Documentary research and Quantitative research.

         In this study, we found that the components of the digital health ecosystem are 1) Healthcare Ecosystem, 2) Digital Healthcare Network, and 3) New normal of medical services. The digital health ecosystem has made telemedicine, a new frontier for effective healthcare services, expanding the potential of e-services by focusing on patient centric healthcare, and promoting collaboration between patients and interdisciplinary healthcare professionals. For the results of the new normal medical services which are launched in 2021 such as telemedicine services, drug delivery through the mail and pharmacies, laboratory examinations outside the hospital, etc. We found that in the fiscal year 2021, there were 49,195 patients, receiving 77,431 services, with a budget of 2.32 million baht, and the top 5 diseases that were treated the most were Essential (Primary) Hypertension, Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; without complication, Childhood autism, Disturbance of activity and attention, and Paranoid schizophrenia; Continuous. For the laboratory examinations outside the hospital services, there were 23,161 patients, receiving 28,057 services, and with a budget of 2.24 million baht. In the fiscal year 2022, there were 43,615 patients, receiving 106,059 services, with a budget of 3.18 million baht, and the top 5 diseases that were treated the most were Essential (Primary) Hypertension, Non- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; without complication, Paranoid schizophrenia; Continuous, Paranoid schizophrenia; Episodic remittent and Childhood autism. For the laboratory examinations outside the hospital services, there were 40,993 patients, receiving 60,786 services, and with a budget of 4.86 million baht.

         Inconclusion, the new normal of medical service journey in Thailand had begun. The challenges of the digital healthcare ecosystem are setting data structure foundation to maximize the benefits of healthcare and the legislation to control manufacturers of medical devices to ensure quality, accuracy, and validity.