Today, December 25, 2019, the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, held a meeting to clarify the management of safe abortion services under the National Health Security System at TK Palace Hotel, Chaeng Watthana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok. This was supported by the budget from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) and the Health Promotion Fund Office (HPFO) to create understanding among registered service units for the use of abortion drugs, as well as network partners, to ensure that the provision of safe abortion services with medication (Medabon) is as efficient and effective as possible.
Unsafe abortion is considered a significant public health issue in every country worldwide as it is a cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Unplanned pregnancies are a problem that Thailand should pay great attention to, as pregnancies of women who are not ready may lead to abortion or continuation of the pregnancy. The Department of Health considers that safe abortion will be an option that helps reduce the dangers of illegal or unsafe abortions. Therefore, Mifepristone and Misoprostol, packaged together (Medabon), were registered on December 30, 2014, and included in the National Essential Medicines List, sub-list J (1), under the condition of use for medical abortion for pregnancies not exceeding 24 weeks. As of November 30, 2019, there were 124 public and private service units registered for the use of abortion drugs with the Department of Health.
However, to enable service units to purchase the said abortion drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has adjusted the registration conditions for Medabon to “The company can sell the drug to the Department of Health, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, and healthcare facilities under the supervision of the Department of Health or registered for the use of Medabon with the Department of Health.” Additionally, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) supports the cost of services to prevent unsafe abortions and the cost of services to prevent and control unwanted pregnancies in the age group of 20 years and above through semi-permanent contraception (IUDs and contraceptive implants) after abortion.
From the fiscal year 2020 onwards, the management system for abortion drugs has been adjusted to two systems:
- NHSO supports Medabon for service units affiliated with NHSO and NHSO’s joint service units registered for drug use with the Department of Health by compensating through the NHSO’s drug list system, sub-list J (2), which is the overall procurement of abortion drugs in the country and distribution through the SMART VMI system of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization.
- Service units wishing to purchase Medabon abortion drugs directly from the importing company by expressing their intention through the Department of Health.
Source: Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health
Schedule for the meeting to clarify the management of safe abortion services under the National Health Security System, Wednesday, December 25, 2019, from 08:30 to 16:30 at Magnolia Room 2-3, 4th Floor, TK Palace Hotel, Chaeng Watthana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok.
09:00 – 09:30
Opening of the meeting by Dr. Banchachart Khaokong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health
09:30 – 10:15
Management of safe abortion services under the National Health Security System
by Pharmacist Kanitsak Chantrapipat, Director of the Primary Care Service Support Office, NHSO
10:30 – 11:15
Service system for women with unplanned pregnancies and guidelines for managing safe abortion drugs
by Dr. Peerayut Sanukul, Director of Health Center 2 Phitsanulok, Acting Director of the Reproductive Health Office
11:15 – 12:00
Online medical abortion reporting system of the Medical Council
by Clinical Professor Emeritus Dr. Viboonpan Thitadilk, Medical Council
Information on the 1663 hotline service and current obstacles
by Ms. Somwong Uraiwattana, Deputy Director of the Access to AIDS Foundation
13:00 – 14:00
Reimbursement for abortion drugs “Mifepristone and Misoprostol packaged together (Medabon)” in the drug list system program (http://drug.nhso.go.th/drugserver/) of the National Health Security Office
by Pharmacist Supanan Inplaeng, Drug and Medical Supply Service Support Office, NHSO
Mr. Jirot Nakpaijit, Information Management Office, NHSO
14:00 – 15:00
Management of payment and compensation for safe abortion services and service data processing
by Mr. Manop Yoheung, Service Allocation and Compensation Management Office, NHSO
Ms. Prisana Rotsida, Service Allocation and Compensation Management Office, NHSO
15:15 – 16:30
Discussion, Q&A, and suggestions, summary of opinions/closing of the meeting
