Japanese aged care sways PM

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is impressed by Japan’s long-term elderly healthcare insurance model and plans to introduce a similar system in Thailand, Public Health Minister Pradit Sintawanarong said yesterday.

Ms Yingluck learned about Japan’s experience in dealing with its aged society during her visit to the country last week, Dr Pradit said.

The prime minister is aware that Thailand would have to put aside a substantial budget to fund its elderly care scheme, he said.

Ms Yingluck realises Thailand would need to introduce a dedicated long-term care insurance scheme for the elderly, as trends suggest the country is moving past an ageing society and towards an ‘‘aged society’’ — defined as 20% or more of the population being aged 60 or above.

An ageing society occurs when the average age of the population increases as people live longer.

Projections suggest Thailand will be an aged society within 21 years, a faster rate than Japan.

It took Japan 25 years to move from an ageing society to an aged society, he said.

Japan’s strategy for taking care of its senior citizens includes moving the focus away from hospital care to a more preventative approach to disease through community and volunteer care.

Ms Yingluck said this also helps reduce the cost of health care for older people, Dr Pradit said.

The prime minister wants the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to support a new elderly care programme and the government’s Women Fund to take part in the care of the elderly.

Japan needed a 10% increase in medical personnel to deal with elderly care and women were found to play a greater role in looking after elderly people, Dr Pradit quoted Ms Yingluck as saying.

‘‘The key to Thailand’s preparedness for an aged society is unity in policy implementation,’’ Ms Yingluck said.

‘‘There should be only one organisation to direct all strategies.’’

Dr Pradit said a long-term elderly care scheme should be made a national agenda item.