Impact of Thailand universal coverage scheme on the country's health information systems and health information technology.
Thailand achieved universal healthcare coverage with the implementation of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2001. This study employed qualitative method to explore the impact of the UCS on the country's health information systems (HIS) and health information technology (HIT) development. The results show that health insurance beneficiary registration system helps improve providers' service workflow and country vital statistics. Implementation of casemix financing tool, Thai Diagnosis-Related Groups, has stimulated health providers' HIS and HIT capacity building, data and medical record quality and the adoption of national administrative data standards. The system called "Disease Management Information Systems" aiming at reimbursement for select diseases increased the fragmentation of HIS and increase burden on data management to providers. The financial incentive of outpatient data quality improvement project enhance providers' HIS and HIT investment and also induce data fraudulence tendency. Implementation of UCS has largely brought favorable impact on the country HIS and HIT development. However, the unfavorable effects are also evident.
Health Systems Research Institute, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.
Boonchai
B
Kijsanayotin
D063005:Health Information Systems / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013785:Thailand; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*