The budget for the plan is almost Bt11.7 billion. The move also aims to reduce the number of people with ailments, the death rate and the long queues to get health services, while at the same time promoting the healthcare system sustainably.

The plan’s formulation will ensure the harmonious implementation of the national master plans in regard to the infrastructure development to support services, medical supplies and equipment as well as human resource development, according to Public Health permanent secretary Dr Sopon Mekthon during a workshop yesterday on the matter at Miracle Grand Bangkok Hotel. He said each health service region would proceed according to the plan and allocate a budget and manpower to support works to achieve the goals related to people’s access to services.

He said the health-service development was divided into two groups.

Sopon said the service foundation would cover all items accommodating medical treatments such as hospital beds (the standard is 25 beds per 10,000 population), examination rooms, operation rooms, equipment, electricity systems and waterworks.

He said the development of health services covered 13 branches and 46 activities that would be adjusted according to the respective area-based issues.

The 13 branches comprise five speciality branches – heart disease, cancer, accidents and other emergencies, newborns and organ donations and transplant procedures.

The five main services cover mental health and psychiatric treatments, drug abuse, eye problems, kidney disease and oral health.

The three contextual services relate to non-communicable diseases, primary care and district-level health system and Thai traditional medicine and integrative medicine.