Estimating of the costs of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in agricultural works in Thailand

This study used data from Thailand ’s Universal Health Care System to estimate the medical costs of OIIs from agricultural work in Thailand. In 2017, OII medical costs totaled $47 million (USD), about ~ 0.2% of the gross domestic product produced by the Thai agricultural sector. We recommend that some of the national funds curren tly used for medical treatment of OIIs be used instead to develop and implement prevention programs in agriculture. This would improve not only worker health and safety, but also productivity. Availability of data on working conditions, injuries and illnesses, and especially lost time, lost income a nd productivity, and OII-related costs for the workers and their dependents might enable better public health policy formulation.
Source: Journal of Public Health Policy - Category: Health Management Source Type: research