Free health care for Thai children? What is the law?

[Derek JM]

Seen this article.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/308868/all-children-guaranteed-healthcare

from few years ago. Is that law still the current law. Do all Thai children get free basic medical treatment and vaccinations until age of 6?

[Sheryl]

Actually Thailand now has universal health care cover for all its citizens, not just children. Children not covered under a parent's enrollment in one of the SS schemes are eligible under the "universal" aka "30 baht" aka "gold card scheme.

There are occasionally things not covered but by and large all basic health care is.

[Derek JM]

Actually Thailand now has universal health care cover for all its citizens, not just children. Children not covered under a parent's enrollment in one of the SS schemes are eligible under the "universal" aka "30 baht" aka "gold card scheme.

There are occasionally things not covered but by and large all basic health care is.

Hi Sheryl,

Do you have a link to that? like legal text in Thai and English as what what is covered by the universal /30 baht scheme/ gold card scheme?

[Sheryl]

Since almost everything is covered, the issue is what is not. It is not selective coverage of just certain things, It is comprehenesive coverage or preventive and curative services, both inpatient and out, inclusive of medications and inclusive of complex care such as cancer chemotherapy and hemodialysis and kidney transplants (these last added only in 2008).

To my knowledge what is currently not covered is: organ transplants other than kidney, cosmetic surgery, infertility treatments and the cost of medical equipment/medications not on the standard MOH hospital list. This last is where people do sometimes have to pay out of pocket. For example, if a really new cancer drug is not yet on the list but was needed, would have to pay the drug cost (though not any of the other costs associated with giving it). The list does get revised frequently and on the whole is pretty up to date.

Some general articles that give useful background

http://programs.jointlearningnetwork.org/content/universal-coverage-scheme

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3303123/

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/88/2/10-010210/en/

And plenty more to be found if you google "Thailand universal health care"

For specific questions about coverage for a specific patient should contact the NHSO http://www.nhso.go.th/eng/Site/Default.aspx