Mobile Health Clinics and Telehealth Outreach in Thailand - A Focus on Elderly Care and NCDs

Sep 28, 2026

Mobile health clinics and telehealth outreach are examined in Thailand to address health equity for older adults living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). A narrative review synthesizes evidence from published literature, policy reports, and program descriptions identified through searches covering 2010–2025 across PubMed, Google Scholar, and Thai government and organization sources. The findings highlight expanded access, improved screening and diagnosis, and growing telemedicine adoption, including rural and urban models.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare Open Access Full Text Article REVIEW Mobile Health Clinics and Telehealth Outreach in Thailand: A Focus on Elderly Care and NCDs Nakaraj Pluetrattanabha 1 , Thanyaporn Direksunthorn 2 1Surat Skin-Hair-Nails Clinic, Surat Thani, Thailand; 2School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand Correspondence: Thanyaporn Direksunthorn, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, [Email Thanyaporn.di@wu.ac.th](Email Thanyaporn.di@wu.ac.th) Background: Thailand faces a rapidly aging population alongside a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) . Ensuring equitable healthcare access for older adults with NCDs is a pressing challenge. Mobile health clinics and telehealth services have emerged as key strategies to reach underserved elderly populations and maintain continuity of NCD care in remote or resource-limited settings. Objective: To examine current mobile clinic initiatives and telehealth outreach in Thailand focused on elderly care and NCD management, and to evaluate their impact on healthcare access and outcomes for older adults. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of published literature, policy reports, and program descriptions on mobile health clinics and telehealth interventions in Thailand, with emphasis on applications for older adults and chronic disease care (eg, diabetes, hypertension) . A comprehensive search (2010–2025) of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Thai government/organization websites identified relevant sources. Data on intervention models, settings, target populations, and reported outcomes were extracted. In total, 15 key publications and reports were reviewed, from which 8 major mobile clinic or telehealth initiatives were identified. Results: Mobile health clinics have expanded primary care access for vulnerable elderly in both urban and rural areas. The Thai Red Cross Society’s mobile clinic serves remote mountainous communities and provides primary care, NCD screenings, vaccinations, and medications to about 5,000 underserved people annually. Past mobile outreach programs have uncovered many untreated cases—in one survey, 58% of hypertensive and 75% of diabetic elderly were first diagnosed via a mobile unit. Telehealth services have likewise grown substantially. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was rapidly adopted for routine consultations and chronic disease follow-ups. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) introduced a nationwide telemedicine service under the Universal Coverage Scheme, enabling remote consultations and medication deliveries for stable chronic NCD patients, ensuring continuity of care during lockdowns. Numerous telehealth applications emerged (public and private); for example, smartphone apps like MorDee (“Good Doctor”) gained wide usage in Thailand. In an urban pilot “Dusit Telemedicine” model, integrating community clinics with a tertiary hospital, over 300 elderly patients received teleconsultations, reducing overcrowding. An acceptance study in this Bangkok pilot found older generations significantly less likely to adopt telemedicine than younger people – perceived ease of use was a strong predictor of acceptance (adjusted OR 3.95 for usability) . Community-based telehealth pilots in rural areas, such as a Chiang Mai program using Community Health Leaders, demonstrated high satisfaction (≥90%) and successful NCD risk screenings, but also highlighted the need for training and support for both health workers and patients. Conclusion: Mobile clinics and telehealth are complementary strategies for enhancing healthcare delivery to elderly Thais with NCDs. Mobile clinics physically bring essential services to those unable to travel, while telehealth connects patients to providers for continuous care and monitoring. The Thai experience illustrates that integrating these innovations into primary healthcare systems can enhance equity of care for aging populat

FAQs

What problem does the review address in Thailand?

Thailand faces rapid population aging alongside a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), creating challenges in ensuring equitable healthcare access and continuity for older adults.

How was the evidence collected for this review?

The study conducted a narrative review of published literature, policy reports, and program descriptions, searching 2010–2025 sources including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Thai government or organization websites.

What key outcomes are reported for mobile clinics and telehealth?

Mobile health clinics expanded primary care access and enabled screenings, vaccinations, and medication delivery, while telehealth adoption increased during COVID-19 to support remote consultations and chronic disease follow-ups.

Sep 28, 2026

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