ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a glance at Thailand's health status, health care system and health insurance systems. The Thai health system has historically been linked to the country's political rulings and its perception that the state is the main provider of health care. The expansion of public health insurance coverage through the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) is instrumental in inducing such a large-scale public transfer. The Thai health insurance system has gone through several phases, having reformed financing mechanisms, methods of reimbursement and the population covered. Perusal of the list of diseases reveals that health problems in Thailand are mainly attributable to unhealthy lifestyles. Local governments are expected to play a bigger role in providing public health care in the future. The local government built a hospital, designated some area of the hospital as a primary care clinic and requested that the private sector submit bids for the right to run the hospital and the clinic separately.
