Quality of Stents Under Thailand's Universal Health Coverage: Concerns and Improvements

The article discusses the quality and effectiveness of "Stents" provided under the Thai Universal Health Coverage scheme, known as "บัตรทอง." Dr. Damras Treesukosol emphasizes that the quality of these stents is comparable to those in other health systems, despite a higher mortality rate among patients using this scheme due to delayed access to care and poorer initial health conditions. The article raises concerns about the rapid increase in heart centers across the country, which may lead to inconsistent standards of care. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is reviewing the situation to improve heart disease patient care, acknowledging challenges in the reimbursement system and the need for better training and regulation of medical professionals involved in heart procedures.

Key Points:

• Dr. Damras asserts the quality of "Stents" under the universal health scheme is comparable to others.
• Higher mortality rates in "บัตรทอง" patients are attributed to worse health conditions and delayed treatment.
• Concerns exist about the increasing number of heart centers, potentially lowering care standards.
• The NHSO is working on improving the heart disease care system and addressing reimbursement issues.