Project News

GLO+UHC project held a workshop to utilize the Thai DRG* data in medical policy by welcoming the leading experts in analysis of medical cost data in Japan. Due to the influence of COVID-19, we conducted the online workshop for the first time through this project.

This time, opinions were exchanged regarding the use of data on brain stroke treatment and care. Thai counter parts presented the number of cases, complications, examinations and treatment during hospitalization, readmission rate, hospitalization cost, and length of hospital stay throughout Thailand and by region. There were also presentations on treatment results combining DRG data and rehabilitation data. Thai DRG data is linked to all the health care providers under the universal coverage scheme from primary care units to advanced medical institutions. Utilization of this big data is great issue for Thai health policy. Japanese experts gave suggestions to perform an analysis and visualization of whether or not diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and their treatment history are associated with the prognosis of stroke. There was a comment that the analysis of the prognosis could standardize treatment and hospitalization costs. In the future, it is expected that the utilization of big data by both parties will become more active through the sharing of experience between Thailand and Japan.

*DRG: Diagnostic Related Group A payment system in which the treatment cost for inpatients is determined by the disease name, treatment, and treatment details. It is called comprehensive evaluation of diagnosis group classification. Thailand has been introducing DRG in very early phase among ASEAN countries.