Thailand to be model for universal healthcare coverage

BANGKOK, Feb 3 (TNA) -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Health and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) co-organised a forum on achieving universal healthcare coverage. The forum, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was attended by representatives from World Bank Group, the International Organization for Migration (TBC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Deputy Foreign Minister Virasakdi Futrakul said the event is aimed to raise awareness about the importance of Universal Coverage Healthcare (UCH) System. Thailand’s UCH scheme is recognized internationally that it helps reduce household debt and promote health security for Thai people. World Health Organzation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who addressed a keynote speech at the forum said that WHO promote Health For All programme, which envisions securing the health and well being of people around the world as half of the world population have no access to healthcare service. It is the challenge for all countries to achieve the goal of universal coverage healthcare scheme for their citizens. Thailand’s success is proved that the UCH scheme is an achievable goal for countries with all income level. Thailand can share experience and becomes a model for other countries. Meanwhile, Thai Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said that the country has been working on the universal healthcare scheme for 15 years and 99 per cent of Thai people are secured by universal health coverage scheme, which help them avoid bankruptcy.(TNA)