Comparative Health Policy Library

THAILAND | Health Topics

There are multiple views on the strengths, weaknesses, and efficacy of Thailand’s health care system. Below is a curated list of perspectives and insights on various topics that best illustrate the scope of debate. This information has been collected from academic, media, and industry sources from both within and outside of the country. It is not comprehensive. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and are not a reflection of the position of the Mailman School of Public Health or its faculty.
 
The articles are provided with the source first followed by the link to the article. All sources used for the policy library can be found under the Additional Resources tab.
 
Health Topics Included

COVID-19

DISEASE & ILLNESS

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

FINANCING & PAYMENT SYSTEMS

GAPS & CHALLENGES

Bulletin of the World Health Organization | Universal Health Coverage and Primary Care in Thailand8
 
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health | Geographic Distribution of Medical Supplies in the Provinces9
 
 

HEALTH DISPARITIES & MINORITY HEALTH

 
Canadian Medical Association Journal | Medical Tourism Driving Healthcare Disparities in Thailand12
 
 
 
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health | Geographic Distribution of Medical Supplies in the Provinces15
 
MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH

PERSPECTIVES ON HEALTH SYSTEM

References

  1.  Beech, H. (2020, July 16). No One Knows What Thailand is Doing Right, but So Far, It's Working. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/world/asia/coronavirus-thailand-photo.... 
  2. Duggleby, L. (2016, August 8). Melioidosis: Thailand's unknown deadly disease. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/07/melioidosis-thailand-....
  3. Sinitkul, R., Wongrathanandha, C., Siriruttanapruk, S., Plitponkarnpim, A., Maude, R. J., & Marczylo, E. L. (2018). Children’s Environmental Health in Thailand: Past, Present, and Future. Annals of Global Health, 84(3), 306–329. https://doi.org/10.29024/aogh.2301.
  4. HIMSS Media. (2020, January 13). Thailand's insurance industry moving toward value-based care. Healthcare Finance News. https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/video/thailands-insurance-industry....
  5. Patcharanarumol, W., Panichkriangkrai, W., Sommanuttaweechai, A., Hanson, K., Wanwong, Y., & Tangcharoensathien, V. (2018). Strategic purchasing and health system efficiency: A comparison of two financing schemes in Thailand. Plos One, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195179
  6. Blecher, M., Pillay, A., Patcharanarumol, W., Panichkriangkrai, W., Tangcharoensathien, V., Teerawattananon, Y., … Davén, J. (2016). Health financing lessons from Thailand for South Africa on the path towards universal health coverage. South African Medical Journal, 106(6), 533–534. https://doi.org/10.7196/samj.2016.v106i6.10953
  7. World Health Organization. (2019, June 3). Universal Health Coverage and Primary Care, Thailand. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/97/6/18-223693/en/. 
  8. Sumriddetchkajorn, K., Shimazaki, K., Ono, T., Kusaba, T., Sato, K., & Kobayashi, N. (2019). Universal health coverage and primary care, Thailand. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 97(6), 415–422. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.18.223693
  9. Chia, J. (2020, April 23). The History of Thailand’s Healthcare Coverage, and its Uncertain Future. Thai Enquirer. https://www.thaienquirer.com/12090/the-history-of-thailands-universal-he....
  10. Tangcharoensathien, V., Witthayapipopsakul, W., Panichkriangkrai, W., Patcharanarumol, W., & Mills, A. (2018). Health systems development in Thailand: a solid platform for successful implementation of universal health coverage. The Lancet, 391(10126), 1205–1223. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30198-3
  11. Chandoevwit, W., & Phatchana, P. (2019, March 27). Addressing the Male-Biased Gender Health Gap in Thailand . Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1651764/addressing-the-male-....
  12. Finch, Steve. (2014). Medical tourism driving health care disparity in Thailand. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 186(1). https://doi.org/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883836
  13. Thailand Seeks to Address Shortage of Rural Health Care Providers. (2015, May 11). Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/thailand-seeks-to-address-sho....
  14.  Yiengprugsawan, V., Carmichael, G. A., Lim, L. L.-Y., Seubsman, S.-A., & Sleigh, A. C. (2010). Has universal health insurance reduced socioeconomic inequalities in urban and rural health service use in Thailand? Health & Place, 16(5), 1030–1037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.06.010
  15. Nishiura, H., Barua, S., Lawpoolsri, S., Kittitrakul, C., Leman, M., Maha, M., & Muangnoicharoen, S. (2004). Geographic Distribution of Medical Supplies in the Provinces. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 35(3), 735–740. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8043644_Health_inequalities_in_....
  16. Belton, S., & Maung, C. (2004). Reproductive Health Matters, 36–37. http://espace.cdu.edu.au/eserv/cdu:6854/Belton_6854.pdf.
  17. Quick, J., Jay, J., & Langer, A. (2014). Improving Women's Health through Universal Health Coverage. PLOS Medicine, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001580
  18. Raghupathy, S. (1996). Education and the use of maternal health care in Thailand. Social Science & Medicine, 43(4), 459–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)00411-4
  19. Bangkok Post Public Company. (2019, September 9). Thailand's Healthcare Ranked Sixth Best In The World. Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1746289/thailands-healthcar....
  20. Koh, D. (2019, January 13). An Overview of Thailand's Healthcare Sector. Healthcare IT News. http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/overview-thailand%E2%80%99s-healthc....
  21. Mechinda, P., Serirat, S., Anuwichanont, J., & Gulid, N. (2010). An Examination Of Tourists Loyalty Towards Medical Tourism In Pattaya, Thailand. International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER), 9(1). https://clutejournals.com/index.php/IBER/article/view/508/495
  22. George, S. (2016, May 24). What Thailand can Teach the World about Universal Healthcare. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/health-revolution/2016/may/24/thailand-unive.... 

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