Thai Health Ministry to Establish Dental Hospitals in Each Province

THAILAND: The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has revealed an ambitious plan to address the lack of adequate oral health facilities in the country. The initiative aims to establish a dental hospital in each of Thailand’s 77 provinces, ensuring improved access to dental care for its 70 million-strong population. 

Dr Opas Kankawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, emphasised the urgency of increasing dental care coverage during a seminar, highlighting the existing gap between the number of dentists and the demand for services.

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Addressing the Dental Care Gap

Dr Kankawinpong expressed the pressing need to increase dental services to meet the demand of at least 140 million consultations annually. Currently, Thailand’s existing dental infrastructure can only cater to 10 million visits each year, which accounts for a mere 7.1% of the total required. 

The ministry is determined to achieve comprehensive healthcare for Thai citizens, and robust oral health is a crucial component of that goal. To achieve this, a significant increase in the number of practicing dentists and dental facilities is necessary.

Boosting Dentist Numbers and Facilities

At present, approximately 6,000 dentists are employed in state-run hospitals, and around 800 students graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry each year. 

However, only a quarter of these graduates choose to work in state-run setups. To bridge the dental care gap, the ministry is focused on increasing the number of dentists willing to work in public hospitals.

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Ambitious Targets and Upgrading Dental Departments

The Ministry of Public Health aims to administer 100 million dental health sessions within a decade. However, at the current pace, achieving this goal would take half a century. To expedite progress, the ministry plans to upgrade 39 dental departments within state-run hospitals to the status of dental hospitals. 

Esteemed institutions such as Buddhachinaraj Hospital in Phitsanulok, Lam Luk Ka Hospital in Pathum Thani, and Than To Hospital in Yala are among those slated for upgrade.

Collaboration for Nationwide Dental Hospitals

The ministry is actively collaborating with the Budget Bureau and the National Health Security Office to secure the necessary finances for constructing dental hospitals nationwide. By the end of the year, the goal is to have dental hospitals in each province, significantly improving the accessibility of oral care for the population.

In addition to meeting the dental needs of the citizens, these new facilities will also create career advancement opportunities for dentists willing to manage and work in specialised dental hospitals. 

This comprehensive plan is set to revolutionise oral healthcare in Thailand, fostering a healthier nation with improved access to dental services for all.