UHC is an effective tool to achieve health for all
 
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is proven to be ‘an effective tool’ to ensure universal and equitable access to health services and strengthen countries’ capacity in pandemic preparedness and response.

On December 9, Thailand commemorated ‘International Universal Health Coverage Day 2022’ and urged countries to build strong health systems to fight against public health crises, as well as to increase healthy environments and health accountability.



The commemorative event was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, which was participated by over a hundred Thai leaders, government officials, health experts, and civil society groups. 


During the opening of the event, Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand said that Thailand had started its UHC journey in the 1970s and moved towards the full coverage of Thai population in 2002.

"UHC has proven to be an effective tool to ensure universal and equitable access to health services. It is also an investment that pays off, especially during health crises," he said



Don said the Thai government had committed to making UHC responsive to new challenges — including changing disease patterns, aging society, and specific health needs and demands — and emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention to ensure the sustainability of the healthcare schemes.

Some projects are proposed and implemented to enhance Thailand's health capacity, including building an international medical hub in Phuket to serve as a training center for health personnel, a wellness center, a center of precision medicine, and a research facility for academic development at the regional level.

Minister of Public Health Sophon Mekthon said that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a political declaration of the high-level meeting on UHC in 2019, leading to global efforts to achieve UHC by 2030.

Leaders will meet again in New York in 2023 to renew commitments made in 2019. Thailand, together with Guyana, will serve as a co-facilitators of the political declaration on UHC 

He added that Ministry of Public Health would focus on the people, the technology, and the expansion of service facilities in both quality and quantity in the post-pandemic era.

The adoption of new innovative healthcare services including telemedicine, telepharmacist, and other health-related issues have been added to the benefits package to ensure a healthy future for all, said Dr Sophon.


Prof. Emeritus Pawese Wasi, M.D., Honorary Member of Mahidol University Council who is behind the success of Thai UHC, said that Thailand had adopted a powerful tool called a ‘triangle that moves the mountain.’

It emphasizes the role of knowledge, social movement, and politics in solving any difficult challenge and making positive changes.

He added that the establishment of Thai UHC was associated with the ‘policy wheel,’ a policy management approach that highlights the use of evidence, political instrument, and participation in steering the policies

“Thailand is not a rich country. If Thailand can do, any country in the world can do to establish UHC,” said Dr Pawese.


Dr Olivia Nieveras, Acting WHO Representative to Thailand, said that Thai UHC can improve even more if it addressed multiple challenges, especially the quality and safe care, the aging population, and the increasing healthcare demands.

Strengthening primary care is one of the areas needed to be improved, she said.
“We have the health system but it needs to be transformed into the system for health,” suggested Dr Nieveras.

“We need to talk about health promotion and disease prevention rather than treatment… We have to build a health system of wellness rather the illness.”