Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to Sophistication
<span class="fontstyle0">Benefit package is crucial for implementing universal health coverage (UHC). This editorial analyses how the benefit package of the Thai Universal Coverage Scheme (UC Scheme) evolved from an implicit comprehensive package which covered all conditions and inte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2020-04-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3685_35ff6b9aff1f920a2fe7551b024df789.pdf |
| _version_ | 1828433534623154176 |
|---|---|
| author | Viroj Tangcharoensathien Walaiporn Patcharanarumol Waraporn Suwanwela Somruethai Supangul Warisa Panichkriangkrai Hathairat Kosiyaporn Woranan Witthayapipopsakul |
| author_facet | Viroj Tangcharoensathien Walaiporn Patcharanarumol Waraporn Suwanwela Somruethai Supangul Warisa Panichkriangkrai Hathairat Kosiyaporn Woranan Witthayapipopsakul |
| author_sort | Viroj Tangcharoensathien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <span class="fontstyle0">Benefit package is crucial for implementing universal health coverage (UHC). This editorial analyses how the benefit package of the Thai Universal Coverage Scheme (UC Scheme) evolved from an implicit comprehensive package which covered all conditions and interventions (with a few exceptions), to additional explicit positive lists. In 2002 when the Thai UC Scheme was launched; the comprehensive benefit package, including medicines in the national essential list of medicines, formerly offered by the previous schemes were pragmatically adopted. Later, when capacities of producing evidence on health technology assessment (HTA) increased, rigorous assessment of cost effectiveness is mandatorily required for inclusion of new interventions into the Thai UC Scheme benefit package. This contributed to evidence-informed policy decisions. To prevent emptied promises, whichever policy choices are made about the benefit package, either using a negative or a positive list, developing country governments need to make quality health services available and accessible by the entire population. Political decision on benefit package should be informed by evidence on cost effectiveness, equity dimension and health system capacity to deliver equitable services. Low- and middle-income countries need to strengthen HTA capacity to generate evidence and inform policies.</span> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:36:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6cd62a392b14afa9b2af1a9918ecdb7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-5939 2322-5939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:36:02Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6cd62a392b14afa9b2af1a9918ecdb72022-12-22T01:37:48ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392322-59392020-04-019413313710.15171/ijhpm.2019.963685Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to SophisticationViroj Tangcharoensathien0Walaiporn Patcharanarumol1Waraporn Suwanwela2Somruethai Supangul3Warisa Panichkriangkrai4Hathairat Kosiyaporn5Woranan Witthayapipopsakul6International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, ThailandInternational Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, ThailandNational Health Security Office, Bangkok, ThailandNational Health Security Office, Bangkok, ThailandInternational Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, ThailandInternational Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, ThailandInternational Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand<span class="fontstyle0">Benefit package is crucial for implementing universal health coverage (UHC). This editorial analyses how the benefit package of the Thai Universal Coverage Scheme (UC Scheme) evolved from an implicit comprehensive package which covered all conditions and interventions (with a few exceptions), to additional explicit positive lists. In 2002 when the Thai UC Scheme was launched; the comprehensive benefit package, including medicines in the national essential list of medicines, formerly offered by the previous schemes were pragmatically adopted. Later, when capacities of producing evidence on health technology assessment (HTA) increased, rigorous assessment of cost effectiveness is mandatorily required for inclusion of new interventions into the Thai UC Scheme benefit package. This contributed to evidence-informed policy decisions. To prevent emptied promises, whichever policy choices are made about the benefit package, either using a negative or a positive list, developing country governments need to make quality health services available and accessible by the entire population. Political decision on benefit package should be informed by evidence on cost effectiveness, equity dimension and health system capacity to deliver equitable services. Low- and middle-income countries need to strengthen HTA capacity to generate evidence and inform policies.</span>https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3685_35ff6b9aff1f920a2fe7551b024df789.pdfhealth benefit packagehealth insuranceessential medicines listuniversal health coveragethailand |
| spellingShingle | Viroj Tangcharoensathien Walaiporn Patcharanarumol Waraporn Suwanwela Somruethai Supangul Warisa Panichkriangkrai Hathairat Kosiyaporn Woranan Witthayapipopsakul Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to Sophistication International Journal of Health Policy and Management health benefit package health insurance essential medicines list universal health coverage thailand |
| title | Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to Sophistication |
| title_full | Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to Sophistication |
| title_fullStr | Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to Sophistication |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to Sophistication |
| title_short | Defining the Benefit Package of Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme: From Pragmatism to Sophistication |
| title_sort | defining the benefit package of thailand universal coverage scheme from pragmatism to sophistication |
| topic | health benefit package health insurance essential medicines list universal health coverage thailand |
| url | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3685_35ff6b9aff1f920a2fe7551b024df789.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT virojtangcharoensathien definingthebenefitpackageofthailanduniversalcoverageschemefrompragmatismtosophistication AT walaipornpatcharanarumol definingthebenefitpackageofthailanduniversalcoverageschemefrompragmatismtosophistication AT warapornsuwanwela definingthebenefitpackageofthailanduniversalcoverageschemefrompragmatismtosophistication AT somruethaisupangul definingthebenefitpackageofthailanduniversalcoverageschemefrompragmatismtosophistication AT warisapanichkriangkrai definingthebenefitpackageofthailanduniversalcoverageschemefrompragmatismtosophistication AT hathairatkosiyaporn definingthebenefitpackageofthailanduniversalcoverageschemefrompragmatismtosophistication AT worananwitthayapipopsakul definingthebenefitpackageofthailanduniversalcoverageschemefrompragmatismtosophistication |