Despite the publicly dominated health service delivery in Thailand, private providers significantly contribute to healthcare access in Bangkok. This study focuses on assessing the current state of contracting private health facilities by two key purchasing agencies: the National Health Security Office and the Social Security Office.
The study employed a case study approach, using document review and in-depth interviews with key informants. The aim was to comprehensively grasp the dynamics of contracting private primary care facilities, encompassing aspects such as service types, contract duration, standard and quality requirements, and the processes of contract renewal and termination.
The findings revealed that the National Health Security Office categorizes contracts into three types: main contracting units, primary care units, and referral units. In contrast, the Social Security Office exclusively utilizes main contracting units. The existing contracting approaches fall short in effectively engaging private sector providers in service provisions. Notably, large private hospitals perceive public contracts as financially unattractive. This study was published by PLOS Global Public Health.