Evaluate of the Universal Health Care Coverage Policy of Primary Care Unit Network, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

             The purposes of this study were: to evaluate the universal health care coverage policy, to study factors relating to service receivers’ satisfaction with health care and management policy under the universal health care coverage policy and to study factors having connection with administration factor under the universal health care coverage policy of Primary Care Unit Network, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province. The sample of this study consisted of 361 service receivers and 80 officers. Data collection was conducted by a questionnaire and SPSS program was utilized for data analysis. The results of this study were as follows: The universal health care coverage policy of Primary Care Unit Network, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province was at high level. The service receivers were pleased with health care and management policy of Primary Care Unit Network under the universal health care coverage policy at high level which conformed with officers’ satisfaction. According to officers’ views, the management under the universal health care coverage policy was successful at high level. According to service receivers’ opinions, there was a problem of a gold card as the service was slow and unfair. As for the officers’ view, there was a problem of insufficiency in the number of officers and medical instruments together with budget. With reference to the policy, it was inconsistent and unclear. Factors relating to service receivers’ satisfaction with health care policy were personal, educational level and profession factors. As for factors linking to their satisfaction with administration under the universal health care coverage policy of Primary Care Unit Network, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province, they were educational level, profession, income, and type of cards. Concerning sex, it was a personal factor being related to officers’ opinions on the administration under the universal health care coverage policy. However, officer personal factor had no connection with satisfaction level to management under the universal health care coverage policy. Some suggestions for medical service centers under the universal health care coverage policy to operate in conformity with objectives and aims of the project were the government should draw an attention to the policy and give adequate budgetary support for all aspects, particularly for officer aspect. The government should set up a policy to look for qualified and skillful medical officers to provide sufficient and satisfactory service to people in the future. In addition, the current officers should be developed to gain more knowledge and abilities. Finally, involved units should underline its importance and follow up its work seriously and consistently in order to look for and analyze problems with appropriate approaches.