NCDs still 'biggest burden' on 30-baht gold card scheme

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were the biggest burden on the universal healthcare system in fiscal 2025, with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes accounting for the largest number of patient visits.

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) said people covered by the Universal Coverage Scheme, commonly known as the "gold card" scheme, accessed services more than 192 million times during the fiscal year.

The data reflect the growing impact of chronic diseases and Thailand's transition to a fully aged society, while also providing key data to inform health policy, and benefit development.

NHSO secretary-general Jadej Thammatacharee said the scheme plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, covering health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care.

NHSO data shows outpatient services accounted for 185.78 million visits from 28.66 million patients, while inpatient admissions totalled 7.08 million cases involving 4.43 million patients. Average OPD visits were 3.947 per person per year, similar to the previous year.

The figures indicate the healthcare system remains capable of meeting demand despite demographic changes and increasingly complex health conditions, Dr Jadej said.

Among outpatient cases, essential hypertension topped the list with 24.33 million visits, followed by hyperlipidaemia with 13.71 million visits and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with 13.31 million visits.

Acute upper respiratory infections and chronic kidney disease ranked fourth and fifth, with 7.26 million and 6.47 million visits, respectively.

The three most common conditions were all NCDs, underlining their status as one of Thailand's most pressing public health challenges.

The data will help health authorities improve disease prevention, health promotion and patient care planning, Dr Jadej said.

Inpatient services continued to rise, with admissions increasing by 2.32% and the number of patients growing by 0.72% compared with the previous fiscal year. Total hospital bed days reached 29.1 million, up 4.92%, while the average length of stay was 4.11 days.

The most common causes of hospitalisation were infectious gastroenteritis and colitis, with 293,822 admissions, followed by pneumonia at 280,089 cases. Age-related cataracts ranked third with 208,776 admissions, highlighting the healthcare needs of Thailand's growing elderly population.

Analysis by disease clusters also showed respiratory infections, newborn care, bronchitis and asthma, gastrointestinal infections and cataract surgery among the most frequently treated conditions.

Dr Jadej said the findings reflect Thailand's emergence as a fully aged society, while NCDs -- particularly hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes -- continue to pose major challenges requiring sustained prevention, screening and long-term management efforts.