Imperial College London
Dr Sophie Coronini-Cronberg

Dr Sophie Coronini-Cronberg

Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health

Honorary Senior Lecturer
 
 
 
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Contact

 

s.coronini-cronberg

 
 
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Location

 

Chelsea and Westminster HospitalChelsea and Westminster Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Coronini-Cronberg:2007:10.1186/1475-9276-6-11,
author = {Coronini-Cronberg, S and Laohasiriwong, W and Gericke, C},
doi = {10.1186/1475-9276-6-11},
journal = {International Journal for Equity in Health},
title = {Health care utilisation under the 30-Baht Scheme among the urban poor in Mitrapap slum, Khon Kaen, Thailand: a cross-sectional study},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-6-11},
volume = {11},
year = {2007}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - BackgroundIn 2001, the Government of Thailand introduced a universal coverage scheme with the aim of ensuring equitable health care access for even the poorest citizens. For a flat user fee of 30 Baht per consultation, or for free for those falling into exemption categories, every scheme participant may access registered health services. The exemption categories include children under 12 years of age, senior citizens aged 60 years and over, the very poor, and volunteer health workers. The functioning of these exemption mechanisms and the effect of the scheme on health service utilisation among the poor is controversial. MethodsThis cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of 30-Baht Scheme registration and subsequent self-reported health service utilisation among an urban poor population in the Teparuk community within the Mitrapap slum in Khon Kaen city, northeastern Thailand. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the exemption mechanisms in reaching the very poor and the elderly was examined. Factors for users' choice of health facilities were identified. ResultsOverall, the proportion of the Teparuk community enrolled with the 30-Baht Scheme was high at 86%, with over one quarter of these exempted from paying the consultation fee. User fee exemption was significantly more frequent among households with an above-poverty-line income (64.7%) compared to those below the poverty line (35.3%), χ2 (df) = 5.251 (1); p-value = 0.018. In addition, one third of respondents over 60 years of age were found to be still paying user fees. Self-reported use of registered medical facilities in case of illness was stated to be predominantly due to the service being available through the scheme, with service quality not a chief consideration. Overall consumer satisfaction was high, especially among those not required to pay the 30 Baht user fee. ConclusionWhilst the 30-Baht Scheme seems to cover most of the poor population of Mitrapap slum in Khon Kaen, the user fee exempti
AU  - Coronini-Cronberg,S
AU  - Laohasiriwong,W
AU  - Gericke,C
DO  - 10.1186/1475-9276-6-11
PY  - 2007///
TI  - Health care utilisation under the 30-Baht Scheme among the urban poor in Mitrapap slum, Khon Kaen, Thailand: a cross-sectional study
T2  - International Journal for Equity in Health
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-6-11
UR  - http://www.equityhealthj.com/
VL  - 11
ER  -
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