Thailand is set to unleash an 18,000-strong battalion of caregivers to rescue frail pensioners and dependent patients nationwide, in a record-breaking health push fuelled by a multi-billion baht stimulus plan.
The board of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has approved the recruitment of 18,000 caregivers to support more than 100,000 dependent people across the country. The ambitious initiative is part of the government’s 2025 economic stimulus programme, which aims to improve healthcare access while creating thousands of jobs in local communities.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, who chairs the NHSO board, said the decision was made during a meeting on July 7. The board acknowledged the Cabinet’s resolution to endorse a healthcare services programme tailored for dependent patients.
Somsak stressed that the move is essential to address Thailand’s rapidly ageing population and to ease the strain on families and public health services.
“Hiring caregivers is a crucial step to support the growing elderly population with dependency needs. This will help alleviate the burden on families and the state, while also creating employment and boosting community income.”
According to Somsak, the programme aligns with the government’s economic recovery strategy. The Cabinet had approved the stimulus package on June 24, totalling 157 billion baht. Of that, 1.115 billion baht has been earmarked for the NHSO to support community-based healthcare and economic development.
Under the plan, caregivers will be funded separately from the Long-Term Care budget attached to the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme. The funding will follow the Interior Ministry’s 2019 regulations governing community care volunteers and how related expenses are claimed, reported Bangkok Post.
“The NHSO has already allocated the caregiver employment budget for the next fiscal year,” Somsak said. “A national plan for caregiver recruitment is being prepared and will soon be presented to the Cabinet for final approval.”
Local administrative organisations will be responsible for determining the ratio of caregivers to dependent patients, based on the number of individuals requiring assistance in each area.
From this budget, an estimated 18,000 caregivers will be hired to look after 106,806 dependent Thais nationwide. Officials say the project will provide critical support to families struggling to care for elderly relatives and other patients who need constant help with daily activities.
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