Ministry of Public Health upgrades Moh Prompt application
To elevate the status of the Moh Prompt application, which presently focuses on COVID-19 related services, to be the digital health platform for Thai people, the Ministry of Public Health has worked with KASIKORNBANK (KBank), Internet Thailand Public Company Limited (INET), The Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS) and SCG Logistics Management Co., Ltd. (SCG) in improving the application to ensure easier connection and access through development of 12 main features to display health-related data and link to an e-payment system. The features will be gradually launched via the application in August and be made available in LINE OA in September.
at the Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Mr. Sathit Pitutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, together with Dr. Sophon Mekthon, Vice Minister of Public Health; Dr. Kiattibhoom Vangrachit, Permanent Secretary of Minister of Public Health; Mr. Grisada Boonrach, Assistant Secretary General of The Thai Red Cross Society; Mr. Pipit Aneaknithi, KBank President; Mrs. Morragot Kulatumyotin, Managing Director of Internet Thailand Public Company Limited (INET); and Mr. Udorn Kongkakate, B2B2C Business Director of SCG Logistics Management Co., Ltd. jointly held a press conference on cooperative efforts in the development of the Moh Prompt application to be Thailand’s digital health platform.
Dr. Sathit said, “The Ministry of Public Health has a policy of supporting the use of digital technologies in the development of health service systems for enhanced quality and efficiency, which can thus be easily accessible to the target groups. We have therefore teamed with other public agencies and the private sector in upgrading the Moh Prompt application to be the digital health platform for Thai people. Until now, the application has offered services related to COVID-19 and its vaccinations. This cooperation aims to provide greater convenience to Thais, allowing them to gain improved access to health-related services. With the aim of elevating quality of life for all Thais, the 12 new features include linkage of treatment history, medical benefit checking service, physician appointment, telemedicine, digital medical certificate and health pass service, and online payment systems, with linkage to all health-related service units, thus effectively facilitating the work of medical personnel. Development of the application will be continuous for the benefit of Thai people. As of now, more than 32 million users have signed up for the Moh Prompt application. We believe that the improved accessibility of this application will make it easier and faster for all users, thus advancing the nation’s healthcare system.”
Mr. Sophon stated that, by means of the Ministry of Public Health’s back-office development, Moh Prompt can now link health-related data of the general public from more than 15,000 medical service units at all levels and establishments across Thailand, including public and private hospitals, Tambon Health Promoting Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. With cooperation of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) and the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), the application is protected by a security system for data and electronic transactions at world-class standards.
As for the development of features for the general public, both the Moh Prompt application and LINE OA consist of 12 key features, including: 1) COVID-19 certificates containing vaccination records and details for domestic and international travel; 2) COVID-19 test results by ATK and RT-PCR; 3) COVID-19 test units by ATK and RT-PCR; 4) check-in via mobile phones with the Beacon system using Bluetooth and location to enter the areas that require the users to provide information about their health status related to COVID-19; 5) digital health certificates that can be downloaded in PDF format for use in electronic transactions; 6) online donations, including direct monetary donations to hospitals, and donations of organs, eyes and bodies; 7) ‘Chat with Moh Prompt’ to answer inquiries and disseminate health-related knowledge to the general public automatically; 8) dissemination of news related to Moh Prompt, policies of the Ministry of Public Health and other health-related news; 9) health records to facilitate the examination of personal health information such as medical history/patient referral; 10) advance online appointment to receive services at participating hospitals and clinics; 11) checking eligibility for medical benefits at public hospitals and under private health insurance policies; and 12) telemedicine offering remote health and medical advisory services. All of the above features will gradually be made available on the Moh Prompt application in August and LINE OA in September 2022. The features will be adjusted to suit each platform in terms of convenience and public health data security.
Dr. Kiattibhoom said that the Moh Prompt application was initially developed by the Ministry of Public Health to serve as the central database system to manage data of COVID-19 vaccinations. In the early stage, the application was used as a tool to follow up on adverse reactions to vaccines, then it was opened for COVID-19 vaccination appointments for medical personnel, people aged 60 years and older, persons with any of seven chronic diseases and the general public, as well as issuance of COVID-19 vaccine certificates. With 32 million total users, Moh Prompt is one of Thailand’s most popular platforms, which could be further developed to become the country’s digital health platform. To this end, the Ministry of Public Health has worked with all parties concerned to enhance the system towards upgrading the health services and potential of service units, while reducing congestion at hospitals and waiting time of patients. In addition, Moh Prompt is expected to be a channel of rapid communications with large numbers of people to accommodate their requirements in relation to health-related information and services.
Mr. Grisada Boonrach, Assistant Secretary General, The Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS), said, “The TRCS, as a national charitable organization, has a mission to alleviate human suffering, providing health services and relief assistance for those affected by disasters. Eye and organ donation is part of our health services. The eyes and organs donated will be transplanted to patients who have corneal deformities and critical organ failures that cannot be treated by any method other than corneal and organ transplantation. Presently, there are many patients registered to receive corneas and organs from the TRCS. We have collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health and KBank in the development of an online donation feature on the Moh Prompt application, aimed at facilitating people wishing to pledge their corneas and organs to give new lives to others, and promoting better public understanding about such donations and their merit. The TRCS believes that the current development of the Moh Prompt application will help facilitate our mission in providing assistance relief for the society and offering the general public easier access to health services, thus helping improve their quality of life.”
Mr. Pipit Aneaknithi, President, KASIKORNBANK (KBank), said, “With our commitment to offer assistance to those who cannot access financial and public health services, KBank has worked with the Ministry of Public Health in using our knowledge, human resources and technological expertise to support various aspects in the development of the Moh Prompt application. They include: 1) data analytics and summary of daily infected patients; 2) the Moh Prompt Call Center (in collaboration with the Thai Bankers’ Association); and 3) utilization of BI tools in data analytics for the precise implementation of public health strategies. KBank anticipates that the current upgrade of the Moh Prompt application will help improve the country’s public health services, particularly at public hospitals, and efficiently steer this application to become a digital health platform for Thai people.”
In addition, KBank has given support to the development of Patient Mobile Applications for several public hospitals including Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chonburi Hospital, 11 hospitals under the supervision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, etc., in the drive towards “Smart Hospitals” with the aim of increasing convenience for patients. This will help in the provision of quality medical services to Thai people, while also reducing the workload of the public health system.
Ms. Morakot said that INET has jointly developed the Moh Prompt platform with the capability to use digital health information securely and maximize the benefits. This effort includes deploying cloud computing based on healthcare standards; developing a Digital Health Pass and EU DCC in issuing vaccination certificates; conducting digital infection detection for certification at checkpoints of activities/events held in 67 countries (and territories); developing digital medical certificates as required for functions such as job application, driving license renewal, government officer exams, health insurance claims, etc. To become the digital health platform for Thai people, other initiatives will involve an I Claim system to connect hospitals and private insurance companies in checking eligibility for medical benefits and health insurance claims, with no advance payment required.
Mr. Udorn said that his company has developed a logistics system on the Moh Prompt platform – focusing on convenience, speed and security – which includes a temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics system, and logistics status monitoring system. These developments aim to support the distribution of products which require special care, especially medicines and medical equipment, as well as to facilitate service users in receiving medicines and other equipment related to medical treatment, with delivery service available. This will help reduce patient crowding in service units as well as waiting time of service users. Additionally, there will be theoretical and practical training sessions for drivers to enhance their skills, knowledge and capabilities related to safe driving, so as to minimize potential accidents, with 24/7 security control by the Logistics Command Center.
