Information and Communication

Technology(ICT)
• Objective: Review of technologies in
health sciences in Thailand.
• Motivation: To explore innovative use of
ICTs in Thailand and its digital policies.
• Methodology: Employiong the Digital
Divide Framework to review ICT usage.
• Findings: Insights into adoption and
impact of ICT in Thailand’s health sector.
• Recommendations: Strategies for
enhancing ICT in Thailand’s health
departments.
INTRodution to THE ESSence of ICT

ICT:
• ICT is simply defined as use of technologies to
manage and communicate information,including
computers and telecommunications devices and Information and communications
technology unlocks the value of time,
systems.
allowing and enabling multi-tasking,
• ICT helps us in many fields such as multi-channels, multi-this and multi-
medicine,agriculture,education and industry. that.
• ICT increase rate of development in every aspects
By:Li-Ka-Shing
of field in our daily life.
• Due its fast growing usage, it seems that ICT will
make our future more brighter with its intellectual
collaboration with Artifical Intelligence(AI).
Health Care
System in
Thailand
In Thailand, The Ministry of Public
Health(MOPH) has brought many
changes in health care system with help
of ICT.
In 2019, Thai government has announced
that National EHR(Electronic health
records) System will be established and
will brings many changes in health
institutes.
The EHR is willing to improve healthcare
quality and make it more efficient by
keeping different records for patients.
In addition to MOPH, the Thai Health
Informatics Association (THIA) also plays
important role in promotion and
development of EHRs throughout the
country.
Mobile
Health(mHealth
)
mHealth is simply defined as use of
mobile phones and other wireless
devices such as smartwatches etc in
medical care.
It is a great step taken by THIA to health
awareness in public with help of
different applications especially during
COVID-19 .
During COVID, a mobile health
application named as RamaCOVID was
launched for awareness about how
COVID spreads,its vaccination and
prevention .
Such magnificent use of ICT during such
pandemic helped lot of people in
Thailand and infected cases also reduced
significantly
Source:https://jogh.org
Wearable Health Devices
• In this modern era, use of wearable health
devices is increasing day by day.
• Such devices are fitness trackers and
smartwatches are significantly used to monitor
physical activity,heart rate,sleep patterns and
other health metrics,allowing individuals to take
a more proactive approach to their health and
well-being.
• There are many tech companies that are
providing such devices in Thailand such as
Apple,Samsung,Garmin,True,Oppo and Realme
etc.
• Realme is a Chinese smartphone and electronics
company that aims to provide high-quality
products at affordable prices.
• The popular Realme Watch S series in Thailand
offers heart rate monitoring, oxygen saturation
measurement (SpO2), GPS tracking, water
resistance, sleep tracking, stress monitoring,
etc.
Challenges and Barriers
• Infrastructure Limitations: Instead of great
contribution of ICT in progress of
Thailand,certain rural areas may still lack of
internet connectivity and hindering the
effectiveness of ICT . Therefore, people in such
areas are less aware of healthcare and
medicine.
• Limited ICT Literacy: Healtcare staff and
professionals have limited knowledge about
ICT. Hence, they are facing many problems in
adopting ICT tools in their medical field.
• Improper Framework: Due to improper
regulatory policies, Thailand is also lagging
behind in adopting ICT in health
department.Due to which THIA is facing many
problems for implementation of ICT initiatives
in healtcare including issues related to data
ownership,consent and liablity.
Comparison
Thailand Indonesia
• Thailand has less public private • In other hand, Indonesia is much better than
partnerships(PPPs) to manage healthcare Thailand in PPPs to adopt ICT in healthcare in
facilities in efficient ways. effective way.
• Due to less investment in ICT , Thailand is • Indonesia is investing more than Thailand in ICT.
lagging behind in firm infrastructure for ICT.
• Indonesia's ICT market was valued at $36.9
• In 2020, Thailand's ICT market was valued at billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $81.21
US\$19.69 billion and is expected to reach billion by 2027.
US\$39.23 billion by 2027.
Recomandations of Enhancements
• Digital Health Literacy Programs: Launch such digital literacy progams to encourage
healthcare professionals and paitents for use of ICT tools and platforms. This can improve
adoption rates of technologies related to ICT.
• Integration of health Information Systems: Implement of health information systems to
create a unified and comprehensive system for monitoring patient data. This can improve data
accessibility,administrive process and facilitate evidence-based decision making.
• ICT Infrastructure Development: Invest in upgrading and expanding ICT infrastructure, including
broadband connectivity and mobile networks, to support the growing demands of digital
healthcare services.
• Data Analytics for Healthcare Decision-Making: Utilize data analytics and artificial
intelligence to analyze large healthcare datasets and derive actionable insights. This can help
healthcare providers make more informed decisions, identify trends, predict disease outbreaks,
and personalize treatment plans for patients.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Collaboration between the public and private sectors can leverage
resources and expertise to accelerate the development and implementation of health IT
infrastructure. Public-private partnerships can facilitate funding, technology transfer, and
knowledge sharing, leading to more efficient and sustainable healthcare systems.
Future Outlook
• AI and Data Analytics: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data
analytics can grow healthcare industry and allow more predictive
healthcare inventions.
• AI-driven applications: can help to analyze datasets,paitent patterns
and support clinical descion making,leading to improved patients
outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Health IoT Devices: Use of Internet of Things(IoT) devices in health
care can increase remote monitoring of paitents’ vital signs and health
parameters. Wearable watches, smart sensors and home monitoring
systems will play a significant role in maintaining chronic
diseases,promoting wellness and reducing hospital readmissions.
Conclusion
• In conclusion, the discussions highlight the significant role of Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) in shaping the future of healthcare in Thailand. Key points include:
• 1. *Current State*: Thailand has made considerable progress in leveraging ICT in healthcare, with
initiatives such as telemedicine, electronic medical records (EMRs), and mobile health applications
being implemented to improve access, efficiency, and quality of care
• .2. *Challenges and Barriers*: Despite progress, challenges such as infrastructure limitations,
interoperability issues, data security concerns, limited ICT literacy, and regulatory complexities exist
and need to be addressed to fully harness the potential of ICT in healthcare
• .3. *Comparison with Indonesia*: While Thailand has made strides in healthcare ICT, Indonesia may have
certain advantages in areas such as telemedicine adoption, mHealth innovation, public-private
partnerships, government initiatives, and digital health infrastructure.
• 4. *Recommendations for Enhancement*: Recommendations for enhancing healthcare ICT in Thailand
include investment in infrastructure, interoperability standards, data security and privacy measures,
digital literacy and training, promotion of telemedicine and remote monitoring, innovation and research,
and public-private partnerships
• .5. *Future Outlook*: The future outlook for healthcare ICT in Thailand is promising, with trends such as
the expansion of telemedicine, adoption of AI and data analytics, use of health IoT devices,
implementation of blockchain for data security, development of digital health platforms, and continued
government support driving innovation and transformation in the healthcare sector.