Is the Time Ripe to Start a Universal Health Care System for Thailand?
HENRY WILDE,M.D.*• SURASAK TANEEPANICHSKUL, M.D.**, CHUMSAK PRUKSAPONG, M.D.*** SUKHIT PHAOSAVASDI, M.D.**, YUEN TANNIRANDORN,M.D.**,
Affiliation : * Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross, **Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkom University, ***Department of Surgery, Police Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
The Thai government is now planning a health care system that will cover all citizens. One can only hope that this will be a successful effort. The concept that health care is a basic human right is embodied in a United Nations document which was also ratified by Thailand. Most civilized nations agree that it is the responsibility of good govern- ment to ascertain that affordable and free, if neces- sary, essential medical services are available to all citizens. What represents basic or essential health care has not been defined and is interpreted diffe- rently by different societies, largely based on their economic resources and technical sophistication. Some level of medical care has been guaranteed to all citizens whether rich or poor by virtually all developed countries among which only the United States is missing. However, we also know that government sponsored free medical care can be a bottomless pit; one that can bankrupt a state's
Keywords : Health Care, 30 Baht
