Abstract
The Pharmacy Council of Thailand has set a system of accrediting pharmacies
on standard professional practices. Pharmacists in accredited pharmacies are capable of providing professional services to people under the universal health coverage scheme (UCS). Community pharmacies
in Thailand are, at present, not included in the UCS. Consumers’ opinions on integrating pharmacy
services to the UCS are useful for the model design in the future and are the objectives of this study.
Methodology: This study was composed of 2 parts. In part 1, two percents of clients from accredited
pharmacies in Khon Kaen province were conveniently sampled to answer 4 levels of agreement questionnaires
regarding a proposal if accredited pharmacies were incorporated in the UCS. Opinions to overall
and each proposed activity were analysed into percentages, Chi square test and multiple logistic regression.
In part 2, in-depth interview was conducted in another 36 clients regarding scope of pharmacy services,
advantages-disadvantages, and service charge, if accredited pharmacies were incorporated in the
UCS. Data were analysed by content analysis. Results: From 298 analysable questionnaires, more than
80% of the respondents replied that they agreed and would come for the services in 7 out of 11 proposed
activities. Agreement and intention to come for the services of the rest activities were: 78% for pharmacist
monitoring drug treatment in chronic patients, 69% for patient registering with accredited pharmacies,
62% for pharmacist recording patients’ profiles, and 44% for pharmacist doing home visit. In-depth interview
revealed that the consumers expected to receive quick and convenient pharmacy services which
were real problems of the existing system. They also mentioned about the extended roles of community
pharmacies. Discussion: Clients’ opinions were in accordance with the opinions from the high rank administrators
and from the experts in previous studies about incorporating accredited pharmacies into the
UCS. However, the proposed pharmacy activities needed to be justified to the consumers’ requirements
and in accordance with the existing system.
