Learning from Thailands health reforms.

Thailand took a “big bang” approach to introducing universal access to subsidised health care. In 2001 after years of debate and slow progress it extended coverage to 18.5 million people who were previously uninsured (out of a population of 62 million). This move was combined with a radical shift in funding away from major urban hospitals in order to build up primary care. Such an approach has merits but also risks. We discuss the implementation and some of the problems. (excerpt)