Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme: Achievements and Challenges

Thailand has achieved health insurance coverage which guaranteed all Thais access to a comprehensive package of health services. The Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), which was launched in 2001, was remarkable not only for the speed of its implementation, but also because it was pursued in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis when gross national income was only US$ 1,900 per capita, and against the advice of some external experts who believed the scheme was not financially viable. This report is an assessment of how the UCS performed in its first 10 years and the main challenges ahead.

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