Thailand’s Universal Health Care System
Healthcare system in Thailand is supervised by the Ministry of Public Health. Thailand’s chain of public hospitals gives universal healthcare to all Thai citizens via three schemes of the government. Private hospitals help aggregate the healthcare system, mainly in Bangkok and large urban areas. Thailand is among the world’s prime medical tourism landing place.
In spite of its political uncertainty and weak economy, Thailand’s policy on universal health coverage (UHC) made tremendous development since its establishment in 2002. All Thai citizens are now eligible for important health services. The advantage of the policy is because of it’s important services in preventive, curative and palliative care for different for age groups. The coverage of the lofty priced healthcare services, for example renal replacement therapy, cancer therapy and stem-cell transplants, has enhanced financial security of the patients. Superbly managed district healthcare systems of Thailand have enabled people to get healthcare or referral at health canters near to their residence.
Before 2002, Thailand’s health coverage was a hodgepodge. The four schemes tax-financed civil servants’ medical benefit scheme for public employees, the contributory social security scheme for private employees, the tax-financed medical welfare scheme for people in poverty and the contributory voluntary health card scheme for the households enfolded the whole population. But, the hurdles assessing the incomes of those informally employed caused the healthcare welfare scheme to omit its target populations.
Thailand has been relatively fortunate in controlling the spread of the COVID-19. It is said that the success is because of the Thailand’s universal health care system. Thailand has been able to control its epidemic with a the lowest cases in the world with just 58 deaths. Thai epidemiologists say the country’s universal health care system played a great part in controlling the situation.
Thailand is gaining worldwide acknowledgement for the nature of its medical services. According to Public Health Ministry, US magazine CEOWORLD put Thailand sixth in its’ 2019 list of countries with excellent healthcare systems.
According to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the ranking is an indication of the country’s success in structuring and making its healthcare sector.
Thailand’s primary healthcare system supports the community to handle widely expanding social health issues. Such type of medical care system develops participatory governance, social solidarity and health literacy, as well as makes the way for coordination across the public and private healthcare sectors and the population.