Page 138 - ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2020
P. 138

Private & Confidential                                                                                                                                    83




                  Measures                                                  Rationale                                     Timeframe         Related Domestic Agendas
    Strategy 3: Create an equitable society where citizens can fully leverage the benefits of technology (Cont’d)
    Promote digital adoption among the elderly and   A study by the World Bank indicated that Thailand is aging. People aged 65 or older currently account for 11  2017 - 2019       Digital Thailand Plan,
    people with disability               percent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 25 percent in 2040. Several factors have   Strategy 3
                                         brought about this phenomenon, including higher incomes and better accessibility to healthcare services. Its
                                         implications on social and economic policy are vast. For example, the social safety net for elders will demand
                                         greater budgetary coverage from the government, while the shrinking labor force will affect wages, hence the
                                         attractiveness of Thai labor.

                                         Recommendation
                                         To accommodate the needs of these particular group of individuals, healthcare and other related government
                                         services should be provided with better ease-of-access. This can be achieved through online channels; more
                                         specifically, an online government portal through which elders can access public service information. Therefore,
                                         government  agencies  should  start  improving  their  websites  and  electronic  services  that  provide  special
                                         functionality for the elderly and people with disabilities.

                                         Moreover, ICT training should also be provided among the elderly and people with disabilities. It can be
                                         delivered in the form of content provided through the Community Digital Centers, which will allow citizens in
                                         rural regions to enjoy the highest rate of accessibility.

            Source: Bolliger & Company (Thailand) compiled from various sources



















                                                                                                 Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143