Coronavirus pushes digital health

Thomas Hundt

The healthcare sector in Thailand is investing in E-health due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Digital technologies are becoming more popular. Telemedicine is enjoying an upswing and the Covid-19 crisis is boosting network expansion and robotics in hospitals. However, the legal framework and co-ordination still needs to be upgraded.

Thailand in a transitional phase of Digitalization

The Thai health service is still labor-intensive in many areas. Some small and middle-sized health facilities still manually administrate diagnoses, treatment and invoices.

Public and the private institutions have initiated and implemented various digital projects as well as programs, but independently of each other. Therefore, electronic systems are not sufficiently interlinked.

The health information system also lacks specialists who can program and implement complex applications. However, the technical basis for E-health applications already exist, such as the rapid spread of smartphones, fast Internet and data collection via identity cards.

Digital network will be improved

Thailand’s Ministry of Health aims to bring the medical sector up to world-class level. In 2017 it issued an E-health strategy paper that outlines a roadmap on how to realise a digital breakthrough by 2026. In this regard, for example, the departments of the Ministry should develop a regulatory framework.

Business sector representatives have complained that no legal basis has been introduced for telemedicine yet. Online consultations still operate in a legal vacuum. The Medical Council of Thailand is currently also working on corresponding regulations and the Thai Health Information Standards Development Centre is responsible for the interoperability and standardisation of digital health information.

The E-Health plan states that the same standard can link health care services with digital technology without separating public and private sectors.

IT systems to be standardised

In 2019 the Ministry of Health and CAT Telecom signed a letter of intent to develop a national digital health platform with a uniform technological standard.

Initially, the public health system will exchange data via this platform. The pilot phase is intended to begin in 2020. After that, private hospitals and clinics can connect their systems with the database.

The Ministry of Health plans to develop the Samut Prakarn State Hospital, south of Bangkok, as a digital flagship project, which will then act as the role model for other public hospitals. In May 2019 Samut Prakarn Hospital signed a declaration of intent in co-operation with the artificial intelligence consultancy firm Botnoi and with Krungthai Bank, that foresees smart, automated IT-based solutions for the enrolment of patients, diagnoses and settlement of payments.

In addition, Thailand’s oldest hospital, Siriraj Hospital, develops new smart solutions. The “Siriraj 4.0 Hospital” will be entirely digital in the future. The project’s co-operation partners include Huawei of China. The Samitivej Hospital corporation, which belongs to Thailand’s largest healthcare group, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), developed a virtual hospital in 2017. By visiting the website and using the app, SAMITIVEJ PLUS, customers can seek medical advice via video, order medicinal products to be sent to their homes or arrange appointments for blood samples to be taken.

Telemedicine is enjoying an upswing and the Covid-19 crisis is boosting network expansion and robotics in hospitals.

In September 2019, BDMS also signed an agreement with the Chinese platform Ping An (Good Doctor). One of the online service objectives is to reach out to Chinese patients and to promote medical treatments in one of the 46 BDMS hospitals in Thailand.

The Bangkok Chain Hospital PCL, which belongs to the BDMS group, also promotes their electronic health record system, computerised aid for therapies as well as automated processes.

Boost for telemedicine

Doctor Raksa is the biggest platform for telemedicine and has reported a rapid increase in demand during Covid-19. With its app and website, which was developed in 2016, Doctor Raksa links more than 400,000 registered clients with about 600 doctors. The platform also offers an online pharmacy.

The second biggest health-care group, Bumrungrad International, co-operates with Doctor Raksa. Together, they have developed the Bumrungrad Anywhere app.

Some smaller hospitals are developing apps in co-operation with IT companies as well. Their apps help patients to book appointments online. The Ministry of Public Health and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) equip, integrate and promote the use of digital technologies for telemedicine in local hospitals and clinics.

Corona drives network expansions and robotics projects

In April 2020, the telecommunications company Advanced Info Services (AIS) announced that it will accelerate the expansion of its 5G networks and use of robots in the health-care sector. AIS robots have been delivered to Chulalongkorn University Hospital as well as Siriraj and Rajavithi Hospitals. Furthermore, Chulalongkorn University has developed its own robot together with the companies Obodroid and HG Robotics, which can deliver medicine and food to patients.

The AIS 5G networks was expected to be available in 130 Hospitals in Bangkok and eight hospitals in some other provinces of the country by the end of April 2020. AIS supports also the development of artificial intelligence using its 5G network for CT scans.

Contact details: Thomas Hundt, Director Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, GERMANY TRADE & INVEST, www.gtai.com