Unit Cost of Health Services in Health Promoting Hospitals in Thailand

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the unit cost of health care services of primary care units. The cost data and service data for fiscal year 2014 were collected from 10 primary care units. Then, the unit cost per visit was analysed by service types: curative care, health promotion and prevention, rehabilitation, and Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine service. The results indicated that the average unit cost per visit of outpatient services (excluding dental care) was THB 180, the average unit cost per visit of dental care was THB 354. For health promotion and prevention; the average unit cost per visit of the Antenatal Care (ANC) was THB 641, the average unit cost per visit of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) were THB 389, the average unit cost per visit of family planning was THB 267 and the average unit cost of home visit was THB 31 per visit. While, the average unit cost per visit of rehabilitation was THB 291, and Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine service was THB 557. How-ever, the rehabilitation and Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine services data were not available in all health care units because those services require health professional with specific qualifications. Further studies are needed to confirm the results of this study, which has limitation on a small number of samples.