FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Cross-country run by ‘Toon’ highlights mountain of financial problems facing hospitals

Cross-country run by ‘Toon’ highlights mountain of financial problems facing hospitals

AFTER THE famous rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai announced that he would run across the country to raise donations for 11 large hospitals that lack the proper medical equipment, public-health experts have warned that the stunt was just a short-term solution that would not solve the problem at it root.

Economists have also stated that the general public must express their determination to receive better health services so that the government prioritises healthcare and provides more funding.
Artiwara, who fronts the band Bodyslam, intends to raise more than Bt700 million from his 2,191-kilometre run from Thailand’s southernmost point in Yala’s Betong district to the northernmost tip in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. He plans to start running on November 1.
The hospitals that will receive donations are Yala Hospital, Surat Thani Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Chao Phraya Yommarat Hospital, Saraburi Hospital, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Nan Hospital, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital and Nakornping Hospital.

Cross-country run by ‘Toon’ highlights mountain of financial problems facing hospitals
However, Viroj Na Ranong, research director of health economics at the Thailand Development Research Institute, said financial problems in the public-health system were nothing new, but donations were not the answer.
“A good healthcare system cannot rely on donations. It is not a sustainable way to mobilise the system. We still need more money to provide for public health,” Viroj said.
He added that the central public-health fund was insufficient to provide quality healthcare, giving the example of the Universal Health Coverage scheme, which he said needed double its current funding to provide quality, sustainable healthcare services.
Viroj concluded that the public must express their determination for quality public healthcare, if they really wanted an improvement. He added that issues affecting the healthcare system were still not on the public agenda and he did not expect the military government to prioritise social welfare rather than defence.
“People have to make it clear that they want good healthcare to drive this agenda and encourage the government to better manage the country’s budget. Moreover, people also have to be willing to pay more taxes for better healthcare,” he said.
In fiscal year 2017-18, the Public Health Ministry will receive Bt136.17 billion from taxpayers, which places it outside the top five government agencies receiving the highest budgets.

Cross-country run by ‘Toon’ highlights mountain of financial problems facing hospitals
A former director of Koh Lanta Hospital and administrator of the Facebook fanpage “Drama Addict”, Dr Withawat Siriprachai also said the funding shortage in the healthcare system was very severe and there should be a more sustainable approach to solve the problem for good.
“I admire the good intentions of Toon to raise donations for the hospitals, as many have suffered very badly from the lack of good medical equipment and overcrowding, while they cannot request more funding from the government,” Withawat said.

Cross-country run by ‘Toon’ highlights mountain of financial problems facing hospitals
While many hospitals heavily rely on donations, Withawat said that was just a temporary patch for the chronic lack of funding.
“I wish this campaign will ignite the public awareness about this problem in our healthcare system and initiate change,” he said.
Withawat said the healthcare system was facing a deficit due to the high volume of patients, so he suggested that people take good care of themselves, which could decrease the burden on the public-health system in the long run.
 

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