2024-01-23 10:01:15
NHSO board supports “comprehensive cancer” by adding “self-testing kits for liver fluke screening in the Gold Card system” Aggressive screening of at-risk citizens aged 15 years and over, targeting 157,000 people to serve.
January 23, 2024 Dr. Chonnan Srikaew, Minister of Public Health As Chairman of the National Health Security Committee, he revealed that At the meeting of the National Health Security Committee (NHSO Board) on January 18, it considered and approved the benefits. “Urine test, ready-made rapid liver fluke test kit (OV-Rapid Diagnosis Test: OV-RDT) by self (Self test)” as an additional option in screening for liver fluke disease and cancer. Bile ducts in the National Health Insurance System or the 30 baht gold card for Thai people with every right, presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prabsri Ungthaworn, Chairman of the Subcommittee to Determine the Type and Scope of Public Health Services, and Mrs. Waraporn Suwanwela, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Health Security Office (NHSO).
Dr. Chonnan said: Liver fluke disease is one of the causes of bile duct cancer. From data on services received in the NHSO system from 2014-2022, there were a cumulative number of 195,207 bile duct cancer patients, with District 8 Udon Thani having the most patients with 28,178 cases, followed by District 7 Khon Kaen with 28,020 cases. 9 Nakhon Ratchasima has 22,214 cases and District 1 Chiang Mai has 20,920 cases. When looking at the number of new bile duct cancer patients each year It was found that there was a trend of continuous increase. Most recently, in 2022, there were 25,604 new patients with bile duct cancer, or an average of 38.74 per 100,000 population.
However, bile duct cancer can be treated if found in the early stages. In order to increase access to screening services for liver fluke and bile duct cancer, the NHSO board has also approved screening. A rapid ready-made liver fluke test kit that is a urine test. (Urine self-testing kit to screen for liver fluke) is a benefit of the Gold Card system. For people aged 15 years and up who are at risk and have a history of being infected with liver flukes. or have ever taken liver fluke medicine or have a history of eating undercooked freshwater fish. You can receive a screening kit. You can get it at the innovation service unit near you, such as a drug store, nurse’s clinic, and general medicine clinic. etc. and do the screening yourself. It takes about 10 minutes and the cost is 150 baht per set.
“Bile duct cancer is a public health problem in Thailand. Especially in the northeastern region where many patients are found. Screening is therefore an important standard. Benefits of this liver fluke self-testing urine test kit It will allow people at risk to screen themselves and receive treatment at an early stage. The NHSO board resolution also supports the government’s comprehensive cancer policy,” said the NHSO board president.
Dr. Jadej Thamthatcharee, Secretary-General of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), said: The origin of this benefit It is a proposal from a study project to develop a benefit package under the Universal Health Coverage (UCBP) system in 2024, regarding a benefit package for rapid liver fluke screening using urine at the Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital level for at-risk populations. to liver fluke infection It is also in accordance with the discussions of the Ministry of Public Health. Regarding screening for liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer under the Comprehensive Cancer Policy The goal is to take care of at-risk people aged 15 years and over.
In this regard, the Gold Card system already has liver fluke and bile duct cancer screening services included in the benefits package. It is a screening test by examining the stool to find liver fluke eggs (Direct Smear, Stool concentration) or other methods) in the at-risk population aged 15 years and over. The target service is 142,500 people. The service is provided by public health personnel. It takes approximately 15-30 minutes per person and has an average cost of 200 baht per session, which is included in the lump sum budget per head. By providing a liver fluke self-testing urine test kit service which is an additional benefit, the NHSO aims to serve 157,500 people, including 2 screening methods. It is a target for screening services in fiscal year 2024 for 300,000 people, using an additional budget of 24 million baht.
“According to the resolution of the NHSO board that approved the liver fluke self-screening urine test kit service on January 18, after this, the NHSO will expedite various actions. To support such resolution If the system is ready for service NHSO will continue to publicize it for the public to know,” said the NHSO secretary-general.
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