Universal Coverage (Thailand)

The Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), also known as the Gold Card or 30-baht scheme, is the largest of the three Thai healthcare programmes that provide universal health care. It covers the majority of the population, and is directly funded by the national budget and allocated on a mixed per-capita basis by the National Health Security Office (NHSO). The programme was launched in 2002 during the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, based on foundational developmental work by public-health civil servants, especially Doctor Sanguan Nitayarumphong, beginning in the 1980s.

National Health Security Act B.E. 2545
Parliament of Thailand
Territorial extent	Thailand
Passed by	House of Representatives
Passed	31 August 2002
Enacted by	Senate
Assented to by	King Bhumibol
Royal assent	18 November 2002
Commenced	19 November 2002
Administered by	National Health Security Office
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Representatives
Introduced by	First Thaksin Cabinet
First reading	22 November 2001
Second reading	15 May 2002
Third reading	15 May 2002
Second chamber: Senate
First reading	30 May 2002
Second reading	31 August 2002
Third reading	31 August 2002
Status: Current legislation

At its launch, the programme required a copayment of 30 baht (approx. 1 US dollar) per visit, and it became widely known by that name. Thailand became among of the few middle-income countries to implement universal healthcare, and the system was internationally praised and contributed greatly to Thaksin's political popularity.

The system has, since its original implementation, seen various modifications, including the removal of the 30 baht copayment (which happened following Thaksin's overthrow by coup in 2006) and the provision of direct access to antiretroviral therapy, haemodialysis and other chronic diseases. Further reforms are still being considered in order to address financial sustainability issues.^[1][2][3]