An Overview of Emergency Medical Service System Developments in Thailand

Abstract

Emergency medical service (EMS) system in Thailand covers the whole range of EMS similar to Six Building Blocks of health system of the World Health Organization; which provides adequate authority and roles for working to protect life of people needed emergency medical service. Developments of EMS in Thailand can be traced back to more than a century; and can be divided into 4 phases. Phase I began in parallel with relief work. Phase II was the development of ambulance system. Phase III was the development of financing system in Universal Health Coverage scheme, then the promulgation of Emergency Medical Service Act 2008. The country is currently at the Phase IV of the EMS which has been developed in line with the EMS Act. With the leadership of the National Institute of Emergency Medicine of Thailand, the performance has been quite successful and efficient.