The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is advocating for the utilization of a telemedicine service, which is included in the gold card universal health scheme, for Thai nationals living abroad.
Dr. Atthaporn Limpanyalert, the deputy secretary-general of NHSO, announced that this telemedicine service was launched on January 17 to facilitate access to primary healthcare for Thais residing overseas.
To assist approximately 20,000 Thai nationals in Singapore with this service, the Thai embassy invited NHSO officials to share detailed information about the telemedicine offerings with the local Thai community.
The initiative aims to decrease medical expenses, reduce costs, and save time that would otherwise be spent traveling to hospitals, Dr. Atthaporn explained.
Additionally, NHSO officials conducted a survey among 54 Thai worker volunteers during a two-day visit on August 17-18 to evaluate their access to healthcare.
The survey results indicated that over 60% of the participants were over the age of 50. Of those surveyed, about 40% worked as general laborers, 17% as domestic workers, and 9.3% in the construction sector.
Approximately 75% of respondents reported experiencing minor or mild health issues in the past year, yet only 61% had health insurance. Those without insurance typically sought treatment at nearby clinics. Around 65% indicated that their medical expenses comprised less than 10% of their income, while 13% stated that medical costs took up 20-30% of their salary.
Notably, about 39% of participants refrained from seeking treatment for certain conditions due to worries about high expenses, and 63.65% encountered communication barriers when accessing healthcare services.
Moreover, nearly 13.6% reported being unable to access services due to long wait times.
Respondents recommended that the telemedicine program should also encompass mental healthcare, as many Thai individuals deal with anxiety stemming from cultural differences and work-related stress.
