A Comparative Analysis of Primary Care Costs of Sub-District Health Promoting Hospitals of Local Governments and of Ministry of Public Health

Authors

  • Chanida Ekakkararungroj Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program
  • Kridsada Chareonrungrueangchai Bangkhla Hospital, Chachoengsao Provincial Public Health Office
  • Chayapat Rachatan Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program
  • Sherilyn Pratumsuwan Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program
  • Thanayut Saeraneesophon Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program
  • Nachawish Kittibovorndit Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program
  • Yot Teerawattananon Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program

Keywords:

health care decentralization,, unit cost analysis,, primary care services

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the service unit costs of sub-district health promoting hospitals between the transferred and non-transferred hospitals and employed purposive sampling to select two specific provinces, namely Chiang Rai and Lampang. This study used a standard unit cost analysis method, collecting retrospective data on labor, material, and capital (equipment) costs from October 2021 to September 2022, through interviewing practitioners and reviewing data recorded in the sub-district health promoting hospitals. The findings indicated that the transferred sub-district health promoting hospitals had lower unit costs. The decrease was partly attributed to a significant reduction in number of health personnel working in the recently transferred units. Therefore, the allocation of personnel was a critical issue to consider before embarking on the decentralization process. Furthermore, the present study had limitations of studying early period of transfer, during the period of COVID-19 pandemic, and adopting services data from previous studies.

References

Rondinelli DA, Nellis JR, Cheema GS. Decentralization in developing countries [internet]. World Bank staff working paper; 1983 [cited 2023 July]. Available from: https://edepot.wur.nl/61210.

Kulthanmanusorn A, Saengruang N, Wanwong Y, Kosiyaporn H, Witthayapipopsakul W, Srisasalux J, et al. Assessing the shift of primary care to local government organization: synthesize lessons from 51 areas and policy options. Final report. Nonthaburi: Health system information and knowledge archive, Health Systems Research Institute; 2018 [cited 2023 July]. Available from: https://kb.hsri.or.th/dspace/handle/11228/4866?locale-attribute=th. (in Thai)

Regmi K. Health service decentralization: an overview. In: Regmi K, editor. Decentralizing health services. New York: Springer; 2014 [cited 2023 July]. p. 1-15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9071-5_1.

Magnussen J, Martinussen PE. From centralization to decentralization, and back: Norwegian health care in a nordic perspective. In: Costa-Font J, Greer SL, editors. Federalism and decentralization in European health and social care. London: Palgrave Macmillan; 2013 [cited 2023 July]. p. 101-120. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137291875_6.

Act on Decentralization on Plans and Procedures to Local Administrative Organizations, 2542 (1999). The Government Gazette Volume 116, Section 114 Kor 48-66 (Nov 17, 1999). (in Thai)

Announcement of the Decentralization to Local Administrative Organizations on the Action Plan Prescribing the Procedures of Decentralization to Local Administrative Organizations. The Government Gazette Volume 119, Special Section 23 Ngor 22 (Mar 13, 2002). (in Thai)

Announcement of the Decentralization Committee to Local Administrative Organizations on the Enforcement of the Decentralization Plan to Local Administrative Organizations (No. 2), B.E. 2008 and Action Plan for Decentralization to Local Administrative Organizations (No. 2). The Government Gazette Volume 125, 1-2 (Feb 26, 2008). (in Thai)

Announcement of the Decentralization Committee to Local Administrative Organizations on Criteria and Procedures for Transferring Missions of the 60th Anniversary Nawaminthachini Health Center and Health Promoting Hospital to the Provincial Administrative Organization. Thai Government Gazette Volume 138, Special Section 254 Ngor 14-5 (Oct 19, 2021). (in Thai)

Yirong V. Transferring tasks to local government organizations: progress and obstacles in the transfer. Thai Journal of Public Administration. 2020 Dec 31;18(2):27. (in Thai)

Sangmano S, Siriwoharn S, Pichai K. Problems of transferring district health promoting hospitals from the Ministry of Public Health to local government organizations in Chiang Mai province. Journal of Graduate Research. 2014;5(2):25-35. (in Thai)

Parliamentary Budget Office. Policy recommendations for budget allocation as subsidies to local government organizations according to transfer missions case study of sub-district health promoting hospitals. Bangkok: Parliamentary Budget Office; 2020 [cited 2023 July]. Available from: https://www.parliament.go.th/ewtadmin/ewt/parbudget/ewt_dl_link.php?nid=872. (in Thai)

Riewpaiboon A. Cost analysis of health system. 1st ed. Bangkok; 2018. (in Thai)

Phodha T, Singweratham N, Rochanathimoke O, Techakehakit W, Bunpean A. A compared cost analysis for health care services in tambon health promotion hospitals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period fiscal year 2019-2021. The Southern College Network Journal of Nursing and Public Health. 2023;10(1):170-81. (in Thai)

Rakmawati T, Hinchcliff R, Pardosi JF. District-level impacts of health system decentralization in Indonesia: a systematic review. Health Planning and Management. 2019;34(2):e1026-e53.

Downloads

Published

29-03-2024

How to Cite

1.
Ekakkararungroj C, Chareonrungrueangchai K, Rachatan C, Pratumsuwan S, Saeraneesophon T, Kittibovorndit N, Teerawattananon Y. A Comparative Analysis of Primary Care Costs of Sub-District Health Promoting Hospitals of Local Governments and of Ministry of Public Health. J Health Syst Res [Internet]. 2024 Mar. 29 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];18(1):49-5. Available from: https://he04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/j_hsr/article/view/2390

Issue

Section

original article