Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) is the foundation of Thai healthcare system that guarantees people's access to testing, diagnosis, and treatment of the coronavirus disease, known as Covid-19.

           "Thai government covers all expenses for every Thai citizen with suspected and confirmed coronavirus disease," said Dr. Karoon Kuntiranont Deputy Secretary-General from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), an independent organization of Thai government operating UHC.

"The UHC budget is directed to fund the cost of lab test for suspected cases, medicines and the whole treatment process."

           Thailand experienced the wave of Covid-19 infections in mid-March after the Public Health Ministry discovered two super-spreader clusters—a boxing stadium and an entertainment venue in Bangkok.

           By 22 March, the number of new infectious cases leaped to 188 in one day, prompting Thai government to announce a state of emergency by the end of the month. More than 100 confirmed cases were reported daily since then.

           But the spread of the disease was slow down in mid-April and, eventually, reduced to single-digit or zero cases a day recently. It is a result of the government's restriction of people's movement and economic activities under social distancing measures.

           A crucial factor that curves the spread of the virus: more than 99% of Thai populations are insured by either UHC, Social Security Scheme or Civil Servant Healthcare Benefits which allow them to access healthcare services.

           UHC scheme, funded by the government's tax revenue, allows Thai government to mobilize health financing and resources for Covid-19 emergency responses.

           Every Covid-19 case is considered "emergency." Patients can visit any state hospitals across the country to request tests and treatments, helping health workers identify infectious cases as soon a possible and trace the suspected cases effectively.

           Thai government allocates around 190 billion baht to UHC scheme in 2020. It covers medical fees for nearly 49 million beneficiaries, approximately 3,600 baht per head per year.

           "Facing unexpected pandemic, the NHSO diverted one billion baht from UHC budget to fight Covid-19 in particular. The government provide NHSO additional 3.26 billion baht to pay for Covid-19-relevant medical and health personnel cost occurred in health units," said

           "As we could mobilize health funding after we found the clusters, we could take any immediate actions to treat patients and control pandemic effectively."

           With the availability of funding, health workers can launch programs including "Covid-19 active case finding" at local community levels. In Phuket, the province with the highest confirmed cases after Bangkok, the UHC budget was spent to conduct Covid-19 tests in sub-districts with a high prevalence rate.

           The budget supports other incurred costs beyond medical services, including the logistic cost for patients' transfer and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment to hospitals and local communities.

           Hospital operators can request the UHC fund for paying postage fees, which some hospital operators must deliver drugs and medical supplies to non-Covid-19 patients staying home.

           Moreover, the UHC budget provides a maximum of 800,000 baht compensation to health workers affected by Covid-19 while on their duties. They or their families can request for compensation if they are infected or die by the disease, or becoming disabled.

           "NHSO has collaborated with local administration organizations across Thailand to run health promotion and disease prevention programs that protect people from Covid-19," said Dr. Attaporn.

           The collaboration is achieved by long years of the NHSO's working with local administration organizations and local communities. In 2006, NHSO established the Community Health Security Fund (CHSF) that supports health programs at the grassroots level.

           The source of CHSF budget comes from the contributions of NHSO's UHC budget, local administration organizations and local community members.

           During the Covid-19 pandemic, CHSF becomes an important mechanism that encourages local communities to initiate health promotion and disease prevention programs—such as the training courses for local communities and health volunteers to perform screening tests, and look after suspected cases under home quarantines.

           Some communities used the fund to purchase fever thermometers, face masks and alcohol gels, and distribute them to community members without fee charges. Many communities spent the fund to educate local residents about how to prevent infections.

           "Containing the spread of Covid-19 is an agenda that every sector must collaborate with. No exception for local administration organizations and local communities," said NHSO Secretary-General Sakchai Kanjanawatana.

"We give the rights to local players to design their own disease prevention programs."

.....................26 May 2020