Health Care Delivery System: Thailand

Thailand became a pathfinder for lower- and middle-income countries when it introduced universal health care for its citizens in 2002. The country has a mixed but predominantly public system, with an extensive network of administrative offices, hospitals, and health centers at provincial and district levels. This entry describes the three public health insurance programs: the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), the Social Security Scheme (SSS), and the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS), and the entitlements provided for members. Special attention is given to the UCS and its strengths and weaknesses. Research evidence suggests that the UCS has had strong positive impacts on access to care, equity of access, financial risk protection, and reduction in unmet need, but has brought more limited gains in building primary care capability in rural areas and developing disease prevention and health promotion.