Primary Healthcare System Transition: Challenges and Solutions for Future Operations

Abstract

The Senate Committee on Public Health has conducted a study to examine the significance of the primary healthcare system and its impact on the public access to health services.Currently, the primary healthcare system is not making sufficient progress in achieving its objectives, which has led to a lack of quality healthcare access for the general population Additionally, there is an ongoing issue of transferring responsibilities to local administrative organizations as part of the decentralization policy. The study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive primary healthcare system that includes health promotion, disease prevention and control, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. This system is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 which aims to achieve universal health coverage.

            The study highlights the need to assess the readiness of provinces for transferring the Tambon Health Promotion Hospitals (THPHs) prior to implementing a nationwide plan to determine the advantages, disadvantages, and overall efficiency for the public. The study concludes that the establishment of departmental-level unit to drive the primary healthcare system will be benefit for the public. It will serve as the initial point of healthcare contact within communities, ensuring continuous and holistic care from birth onwards. This involves improving current services or establishing new service units to comply with standards and integrating a multidisciplinary team of family medicine physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, professional nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and public health academics.              This integrated approach will further advance the primary healthcare system.