Abstract:
Like other countries, Thailand health services system has been managed by health ministry of central government. As health status of the population could indirectly be affected by non-health determinants whereas public services provided and managed locally has been proposed as a more efficient system, Thailand has entered an era of health decentralization. As an optimal level from various perspectives, Tambon was chosen as potentially the most optimal level, in which Tambon Health Promoting Hospital (THPH) and Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) are the two main local public health and non-health providers representing the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Internal Affairs, respectively.However, unsatisfactory progress after the first few years of implementation resulted in the need for in-depth explanation as well as identification of opportunity for improvement. One of the critical concerns was unclearly defined overlapping roles between the two organizations. To clarify concepts and scopes of healthcare tasks at Tambon level, a sequence of qualitative and quantitative research methods was conducted. Relevant documents and literatures were reviewed to gain a better understanding of health decentralization concepts and experiences as well as producing initial list of healthcare tasks. To clarify the list, applied linguistic research technique was done. In-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders and qualitatively analyzed. Questionnaire was developed based on the identified themes, covering both traditional determinants of health decentralization as well as some novel issues including informal relationship between staff of the two organization and how it affect the progress of national movement toward health decentralization. The questionnaire was validated then used in the national survey of health and non-health staff of the two organizations at Tambon level, selected using multi-stage cluster sampling technique. The list of healthcare tasks was presented to panels of experts and health practitioners to determine if each of the tasks should be accounted for and implemented by either local organization. Data were analyzed during descriptive and inferential statistics as well as exploratory factor analysis. Informal relationship was also explored using innovative approaches. A total of 393 healthcare tasks were initially identified from the review of documents and literature. After linguistic adjustments, the list was expanded to have 595 clearly defined tasks. Survey responses were received from 73.0% (276/378) Tambons (317 THPHs and 135 SAOs) and 59.0% (441/748) staff. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, healthcare tasks could be classified into (1) curative and counseling services, (2) health promotion, disease prevention, and public health support, and (3) environmental health services. It was revealed that 106 (17.8%) healthcare tasks were accounted for and implemented by both THPH and SAO, 18 (13.0%) were accounted for by THPH but implemented by SAO, 7 (5.1%) were accounted for and implemented only by THPH, and 4 (2.9%) were accounted for and implemented only by SAO. Informal relationships were classified into four levels: strong, moderate, weak and no informal relationship, mainly because of potential impact on local health services system. Strong informal relationship existed when the Chief Executive of SAO had any relationship degree with any THPH staff. When the Deputy Chief Executive of SAO or Chairman of the SAO Council had such relationship, the Tambon was classified as moderate level. Tambon with some other relationship patterns was categorized as weak. Approximately 58.5, 12.0, 7.4 and 22.2% of the surveyed Tambon have strong, moderate, weak, and no informal relationship, respectively. Healthcare tasks of local health and non-health organizations have been clearer as a result of empirical evidence from this mixed method research. KEYWORDS: Healthcare Tasks, Health Decentralization, Local Public Providers, Thailand