Thailand has launched a comprehensive project to help healthcare facilities and personnel strengthen their response to COVID-19 as well as to improve the country’s health care system after the pandemic subsides. The project is known as ‘Build Back Better’.
All healthcare facilities in Bangkok and 12 Regional Health Offices across the country will participate in the project over the next 10 months. The Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, with support from WHO and the government of Japan has developed a 'new normal' model for health service delivery to strengthen the healthcare system and support health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Pattani province is piloting the ‘new normal’ system. The ‘new normal’ medical services model is an innovation developed in the wake of COVID-19. As part of the model, patients with different diseases are classified into three 'traffic light' groups based on the need for direct medical care and risk of COVID-19 infection. Patients who do not need to visit healthcare facilities are supported by remote consultation and drugs are delivered to them, often by village volunteers. Arrangements for patients who need to visit healthcare facilities are modified, considering the patient’s route and the need to maintain physical distancing. When more intensive care is required, services have been made safer for patients and health care providers–such as upgraded ventilation inside facilities.
Several months ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak in Thailand, some hospitals were challenged to manage the outbreak and protect their health workers. Some temporary essential health services were temporarily disrupted.
To help avoid a similar situation in the future, the ‘new normal’ medical services model aims to raise understanding and awareness of risk and strengthen healthcare facilities’ capacity to manage it, so that the system can be better prepared.