Workload of Health Care Providers in Community Hospitals and Health Centers before and during the Universal Health Care Coverage Scheme of Amnat Charoen Province

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to compare the workload of Health care providers in community hospitals and Health Centers before and during the universal Health Care Coverage Scheme (UC) of 5 Amphoes out of 7 Amphoes (except for Amphoes Phana and Mueang) of Amnat Charoen province. Data were collected from official organization reports before the UC (during June, 2000 - May, 2001) and during the UC (June, 2002 - May, 2003).

Results of workload identification of health care providers in community hospitals and health centers before and during the UC showed that the amounts of workload per person per year declined for every career, except for that of the public health personnel. The workload of physicians decreased from 66,151 to 27,723.6, the dentists from 4,898 to 3,441.11, the pharmacists from 33,075 to 31.988.77 and the nurses from 4,896.18 to 3,317.22 units per person per year. On the other hands, the workload of the public health personnel increased from 3,134 to 3,872 units per person per year.

The results of this study indicated levels of workload changed after the implementation of the UC. However, levels of workload among different types of personnel could not be directly compared since they have different responsibility and types of work.