Field Evaluation of Malaria Surveillance System in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

Evaluation of the malaria surveillance system was conducted in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The objective of the study was to describe the surveillance system and assess the system performance in reporting malaria cases. The study applied cross-sectional approach. Key qualitative and quantitative attributes were assessed. Document review on malaria cases treated in Sai Yok Hospital and data collection at Vector Borne Disease Control Unit (VBDU) in 2015 were performed. In-depth interviews with policy makers and health care workers were exercised. Findings showed that sustainability of the surveillance system might be undermined if the Global Fund support would curtail after 2017. There were some discrepancies between number of cases reported by VBDU and those by health facility via the R506 national reporting system. Sensitivity of VBDU reports was slightly higher than the reports by the hospital though the overall sensitivity of the whole district was of acceptable quality. Concerning policy recommendations, a substantial shift of budgetary support from the Global Fund to domestic resources was suggested. Health personnel at the hospital should be more emphasized on the utilization of R506 reporting system. In addition, the R506 reporting system and the VBDU system should be harmonized.