The Situation of Thai Traditional Medicine Services in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

The objective of this descriptive research aimed to survey the situation of thai traditional medicine service in Nakhon Ratchasima and benchmarking with provinces in health region 9 and province with more than 1.5 million populations. 61 health care provider with thai traditional medicine were population. Data were collected from HDC and questionnairs. Descriptive study was performed.

Result showed that 45.28 % of health care provider provided specific location for Thai traditional service. 45.61% of all were separated structure from another department. 1:33,026 were proportion of Thai traditional medicine per population. 1:4.78 were proportion of Thai traditional medicine per health care provider. Average of 2.12 per man per day were work load of Thai traditional medicine and Thai traditional medicine assistant. Herbal drug dispensing, thai traditional massage, herbal hot compress, herbal steam and postnatal care were provided in all health care provider. Top 3 services were herbal medicine prescribing, health promotion and thai massage 12.66%, 4.83% and 3.55% respectively. In 2018, 20.99% of OPD visit were traditional medicine. In health region 9, Nakhon Ratchasima was ranked 3. And in the large province (more than 1.5 million population) Nakhon Ratchasima was rank last. Health service in Nakhon Ratchasima was ready to service structure, equipment and staff. Howerver lower output were showed lower comparatively with total average. Policy, patient accesstibilty and effective management should be considered.