Page 74 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

Today, civil society networks engaged in public-minded work have increasingly adopted virtual
platforms to align with the growing prevalence of digital technology. This shift has led to the

emergence of online tools for supporting or opposing public policies, such as Change.org; TED, a
nonprofit organization founded to disseminate new ideas through TED Talks; and crowdfunding
platforms that enable public donations for social initiatives, such as Taejai.com, a company that
facilitates online fundraising for socially driven projects (Box 2.3).

Box 2.2: Yuen Yen Social Enterprise

Founded in 2018, Yuen Yen provides palliative care, end-of-life care, for terminally ill patients and
elderly individuals in their homes. Home-based care is generally more affordable than hospitalization
and allows patients to live more fully in a familiar environment. This approach reduces costs for both
patients and hospitals. Home palliative care also eases pressure on the healthcare system and improves
patients’ quality of life, as it avoids the physical discomfort often associated with hospital procedures
such as blood draws, X-rays, and injections, all of which incur costs. Transitioning from hospital to home
care requires an initial visit by a care team to the patient and family to build mutual understanding.
After that, communication and medical consultations are conducted primarily via telemedicine.
Medication guidance is also provided, allowing families to purchase the necessary drugs from local
pharmacies, with pain relief administered as needed.

Yuen Yen operates as a non-profit social enterprise. All profits are reinvested into maintaining the
service. The organization’s main income comes from clients who contribute based on their financial
ability. Although the base cost of each home visit is 5,000 baht, patients pay only what they can afford,
and those unable to pay are still eligible for services, ensuring the organization can continue to support
as many patients as possible.
Most patients are elderly, between 70 and 100 years of age, with an average age of 70. Around three-
quarters of patients have cancer; the remaining quarter suffer from conditions such as dementia,
memory loss, or kidney failure.

According to research by Chulalongkorn University, which surveyed over 133,744 individuals and drew
on data from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in 2015, patients in the final six months of life
were hospitalized an average of three times and stayed approximately 20 days per admission. At public
hospitals, the reimbursed cost per patient averaged 60,565 baht, with the final month of care costing
41,630 baht. In private hospitals, costs reached approximately 100,000 baht (based on interview data).

To date, Yuen Yen has provided palliative care for more than 500 individuals, reducing hospital
admissions by 953 cases, shortening hospital stays by 6,880 days, and saving over 17.2 million baht in
public healthcare costs. With respect to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Yuen Yen directly
contributes to Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being. The savings from avoided medical costs can be
redirected to other areas of benefit, while also reducing reliance on hospital infrastructure. For
treatable illnesses, the hospital system remains essential. However, for incurable conditions with high
treatment costs, palliative care becomes the more viable alternative. By clearly identifying the market
landscape and the pain points of its clients, Yuen Yen has positioned itself as a social enterprise that is
financially self-sustaining.

Source: Based on interview

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