Bangkok: "Pattana" unveils plan to prepare for caring for the public during the oil crisis, revealing that telemedicine has already reduced travel costs by 174 million baht. Mr. Pattana Promphat, Minister of Public Health, along with other key officials, held a press conference to announce their readiness to provide medical and public health care to the public during the energy crisis.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phatthana stated that due to the significantly rising oil prices, the Ministry of Public Health has implemented urgent measures in three areas. The first involves increasing Telemedicine services to reduce travel costs for citizens seeking medical services. During the past fiscal year, over 1.3 million patients received services via Telemedicine, saving over 274 million baht. This service is being integrated with a comprehensive drug delivery system via Health Rider and postal services, with 3.6 million items delivered from January 2024 to March 2026.
The second measure ensures the reliability of emergency medical services, particularly for ambulance transport. Currently, 18 provinces are moderately affected, requiring careful coordination to ensure fuel supply for ambulances and rescue vehicles. The Ministry of Public Health has coordinated with the Ministry of Energy and related agencies to maintain continuous operation of medical missions at hospitals nationwide. Guidelines have been developed to address fuel distribution limitations and prioritize life-saving missions.
The third measure focuses on stockpiling medicines and medical supplies. The FDA has established a War Room in collaboration with pharmaceutical industries to monitor and manage stockpiles, ensuring sufficient supplies for 3-12 months. A dashboard system has been developed to monitor stock levels at various health facilities, categorizing inventory adequacy into four levels. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is tasked with procurement in cases of potential national shortages, maintaining a 6-month supply of raw materials for drug production.
The FDA has also issued measures to facilitate business operations, including expedited review channels for modifications and proactive collaboration with local businesses to enhance their production capacity. Financial assistance measures, such as low-interest loans from state banks, are also being provided to increase business liquidity, along with guidance on using readily available herbs for basic health care.