Ms. Marasri Jairangsee, Secretary-General of the Social Security Office (SSO) under the Ministry of Labor, announced new measures to improve healthcare rights for insured individuals. These initiatives focus on enhancing health promotion and disease prevention while providing advanced treatments for various health risks, including chronic and costly conditions. A notable addition is high-quality plasma therapy (Plasma Rich Growth Factor, PRGF), a modern innovation offered as an alternative treatment for osteoarthritis patients, particularly middle-aged and elderly groups.
Eligible insured individuals can receive PRGF injections if diagnosed by a specialist with the following conditions:
- Early or advanced-stage osteoarthritis unresponsive to oral medication.
- Lack of improvement despite physiotherapy or steroid injections.
- Inability to take anti-inflammatory medication due to complications (e.g., heart disease, kidney disease, gastrointestinal issues).
- Absence of contraindications that may prevent plasma therapy.
Patients are entitled to up to two treatments per year, free of charge. This initiative aims to provide effective care for insured individuals with minimal financial burden.