NHSO reform a national priority

On Wednesday, the National Health Security Office — a public organisation that operates the 30-baht “gold card” or Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) — will celebrate its 23rd anniversary. It is a milestone that shows the progression of medical welfare in Thailand.

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The UCS is one of three government healthcare schemes. The other two are the Social Security Scheme and the Civil Servant Medical Benefits Scheme, which are operated by other state bodies.

Today, 47 million Thais are gold card holders, enabling them to receive free healthcare treatment at state hospitals and private hospitals that participate in the UCS scheme.

Unlike in the past, the atmosphere surrounding the 23rd anniversary is far from ceremonial.

While international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have repeatedly praised Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme as a model for universal health coverage (UHC), the NHSO is now facing heavy criticism and growing doubts.

Since early this year, the Ministry of Public Health has acknowledged that many state hospitals are struggling under the weight of financial debt because the NHSO has failed to disburse funds on time.

Patients in Bangkok complain about having to travel farther to newly assigned clinics after their original ones either closed or substantially reduced services due to a lack of funding.