The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has announced that its telemedicine system has effectively reduced outpatient visits to public hospitals.

This success was highlighted by Opas Karnkawinpong, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, during a presentation on Sunday.

He noted that the implementation of telemedicine has been particularly impactful during the Covid-19 pandemic, facilitating access to healthcare while minimizing the need for in-person visits.

Statistics provided by the ministry reflect a marked decline in outpatient numbers across various types of hospitals.

For hospitals designated with centre status for other hospitals, outpatient visits decreased from 23,022 in 2022 to 15,490 in 2023, with further reduction to 13,341 in 2024.

Similarly, general hospitals reported a drop in outpatient visits from 29,299 in 2022 to 20,303 in 2023, followed by a decrease to 18,709 in 2024. These figures underscore the growing reliance on telemedicine as a viable healthcare option in Thailand, which aligns with global trends towards digital health solutions.