Health Services

The Fourth National Economic and Social Development Plan
 (1977-1981). Part III, Chapter 7, p.261-262.

Date:     1977-1981

Source:     Office of the Prime Minister, National Economic and Social Development Board, Bangkok, Thailand

Subject:     health services, mental health, dental health, health education

2.4.9  Community Mental Health Service

Community mental health services will be expanded to cover a larger number of people living in rural areas and adapted to local needs. This can be done by integrating about 10 per cent of mental health services into existing public health activities. The number of beds and personnel will be increased to attain the following ratios 100,000 people to 250 beds and 25 patients to one physician, four nurses, one social worker and one psychiatrist. The envisaged target for the treatment of drug addicts, including in clinic, toxic-effect withdrawal and out-patients will be around 103,920 cases. With respect to prevention, 111 advisory service units will be set up and 4,225 schools will be served through the participation of teachers.

2.4.10  Dental Health: The specific objective here is to lower the incidence of mouth infections such as tooth decay and gum diseases by 10 per cent. The target is to provide dental care services to primary school children in increasing amounts. Such services will be provided by both the Government and the public sector. Dental health services will be extended to reduce the morbidity rate and expand dental life for at least 30 per cent of the urban population and 10 per cent of the rural population.

To attain this goal, the proportion of dentists to population will be 1:71,810 and dental schools with 100 students each will be expanded and constructed in Cholburi and Khon Kaen provinces.

2.4.11  Promotion of Health Education

The health education programme must play an active role in the reduction of principal public health problems on the following aspects:-

1. reduce household accidents to 8.08/100,000 by 1981
2. reduce road accidents to 10.5/100,000 by 1981
3. reduce accidents from agricultural occupations to 9.66/100,000 by 1981
4. reduce the number of drug misuse and drug addition from 750/100,000 to 500/100,000 by 1981
5. reduce protein deficiency diseases by 10 per cent by 1981

Health workers at all levels will be assigned to spend 10 per cent of their total working hours in educating the public on health matters. Methods to be used will be education campaigns such as films, posters and leaflets.