New 'OP Anywhere' Policy Boosts Primary Care Access in Thailand

The launch of new public health policy "OP Anywhere," or outpatient everywhere, by the Thai government has improved the health care access, as it allows Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) beneficiaries to request primary care services from any primary health unit.

According to a news release by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) on May 10, prior to the new policy, UCS beneficiaries had to request outpatient services from public hospitals they are registered under. Now, they can request primary care services from public health centers, subdistrict health promotion hospitals, primary care units under hospitals, community health centers, and community clinics partnering with the NHSO.

OP Anywhere began in a few hospitals in 2021 and extended to the whole of Thailand in early 2022. From January to March, NHSO reported that around 279 visitors have received health care despite not being registered at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital, one of the hospitals that received positive outcomes after adopting the policy.

"Our core team had meetings to plan for our staff preparation. Communication with our staff and the general public is the key," said Dr. Chakkri Sarikanon, the hospital's deputy director.

Sarikanon added that the OP Anywhere policy is "very beneficial and convenient, especially for patients needing immediate care and those with chronic diseases requiring undisrupted medical consultations."