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The Situation of Thai Traditional Medicine Services at Public Health
Facilities in Suphan Buri Province
†
†
Pornpan Rawangpan*, Sompit Jampangern , Orasa Opaswattana , Oranuch Aemsomboon*
*Thai Traditional Medicine officer, Suphanburi Provincial Public Health Office, Suphanburi 72000, Thailand
†
Thai Traditional Medicine officer, Uthong Hospita, Suphanburi 72160, Thailand
‡
Corresponding author: pronphan611@gmail.com

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the situation of Thai traditional medicine (TTM) services at
government health-care facilities in Suphan Buri province. Quantitative data were collected from 184 TTM
providers (one at each of all 184 health facilities), using a questionnaire for data on TTM administrative
structure and personnel, integrated TTM services (massage, herbal steam bath, herbal compression, postpar-
tum rejuvenation and herbal remedies), whereas qualitative data were collected using a focus group discussion
with five directors of regional and community hospitals in the province. The data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics and content analysis, and also validated using the triangular method. Results showed that
all the state health-care facilities provided TTM services according to the provincial TTM service promotion
and support policy. Regarding the service system readiness, all 10 regional/general/community hospitals in the
province had already set up TTM Units, 4 of which reporting directly to the hospital directors. As for TTM
personnel, there were 42 licensed TTM and applied TTM practitioners (including 28 applied TTM practitio-
ners). At each hospital, the proportion of applied TTM practitioners was higher and the number of TTM
personnel was less than the established staffing pattern. Most community hospitals provide all kinds of TTM
services. For all such hospitals, there were 2,000 outpatient-visits on average per month and inpatient care
was available at two hospitals (Somdejprasangkharach XVII and U-Thong). On average, they used 19 single
herbal drugs and 20 herbal formulas. The top five commonly used herbal remedies also included turmeric and
kariyat in line with the policy on using herbal remedies as first-line drugs. Concerning service integration, two
approaches have been found: (1) the TTM or applied TTM practitioner working together with a modern
medical doctor at the same outpatient department with patient-screening performed by a nurse and (2)
providing treatment collaboratively but from different workplaces with the TTM or applied TTM practitioner
undertaking patient-screening and providing treatment.
Key words: Thai traditional medicine services, integration guidelines, situation

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