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Thailand Makes World's Greatest Leaps on Health Care Efficiency Index

Thailand Makes World's Greatest Leaps on Health Care Efficiency Index
Advancing the world of health in Thailand © Becton Dickinson

Thailand is now ranked 27th among 56 countries ranked on the Bloomberg Health Care Efficiency Index, up from 41st place last year, said Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn Sunday, citing the 2018 rankings published last week. 

Dr Piyasakol said Thailand made the greatest leap out of all the countries ranked by the index in 2018. 

Thailand's per capital spending on health care now stands at US$218 (about 7,086 baht), and the average lifespan of the population have risen to 75.1 years, he said, before adding that Thailand's progress in the medical tourism sector was also noted by the index. 

In the Asia-Pacific, Thailand's health care efficiency is ranked ninth -- behind Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, New Zealand, and China, Dr Piyasakol said. 

Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Image: HitConsultant.net
Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Image: HitConsultant.net

The top five spots on the index are claimed by Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Italy, and South Korea, respectively. 

 By comparison, Hong Kong's per capita spending on health care stands at US$2,222 (about 71,900 baht), while its average lifespan currently stands at 84.3 years, he said.

The Bloomberg Health Care Efficiency Index ranks countries with an average population lifespan of at least 70 years, GDP per capita exceeding US$5,000 per year (about 162,000 baht) and a minimum population of 5 million, said government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd. 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was highly satisfied with Thailand's leap in the index, while the World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised Thailand for being a good model to learn from in terms of national health security, Lt Gen Sansern said. 

Minister of Public Health Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn: The biggest leap of all countries. Image: Bangkok Post
Minister of Public Health Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn: The biggest leap of all countries. Image: Bangkok Post

 

The WHO regards Thailand's national health security system as sustainable because the country is actively promoting public participation to improve the healthcare sector, which the government intends to continue improving to achieve higher living standards for people, he said.

The Bloomberg Health Care Efficiency Index utilised 2015 data from the WHO, which is the latest available information for most economies, Bloomberg said in an article published on its website about this year’s index.

Rankings can change substantially each year due to factors such as recession, currency fluctuations and people's spending patterns in the various countries being monitored. 

 

Source : Bangkok Post

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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