Showing 1 - 10 of 22
Keeping universal healthcare strong
Oped, Amanee Hamu, Thongchai Napim, Manatchaya Chuyingsakultip & Kullaporn Unnanon, Published on 24/09/2025
» For 23 years, Thailand's universal healthcare scheme, better known as the "gold card", has protected millions from financial ruin, a remarkable achievement that has earned worldwide praise. Yet, the system is not perfect.
Fair probe for 'ATK doctor'
Oped, Editorial, Published on 20/08/2025
» When Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, chair of the Rural Doctor Society, led a mission to help Bangkok combat the deadly Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 by providing ATK test kits, he won plaudits and awards from the government.
Can the 30-baht health scheme survive?
Oped, Philip J Cunningham, Published on 19/06/2025
» I recently met Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, secretary-general of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), at the home of a mutual friend to ask questions, of which I had many, about the so-called 30-baht scheme -- also known as the "gold card" scheme.
Social Security Office spending concerns
Oped, Editorial, Published on 19/02/2025
» Concerns raised about budget spending on communication and PR by the Social Security Office (SSO) have brought a much-needed spotlight on the agency that oversees the Social Security Fund (SSF).
Raise your game
Oped, Postbag, Published on 03/01/2025
» Re: "Proactive politics", (PostBag, Dec 28).
Put cancer patients first
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/12/2024
» The meeting between the National Health Security Office (NHSO) and major hospitals struggling with an influx of patients under the agency's Cancer Anywhere (CA) scheme will test the limits of how far critical care services can be extended.
Making abortion safer in Thailand
Oped, Kalyapat Rachitroj, Published on 06/10/2023
» Safe abortion is a basic healthcare service and an important enabling factor for Thailand to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under Target 3.1 of Goal 3 (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), a two-thirds reduction in maternal mortality -- in which unsafe abortion is a leading cause -- is called for by 2030. And this is directly under the mandate of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) to deliver.
Thai HIV response faces setback
Oped, Stephen Mills, Published on 21/02/2023
» Thailand was a model for how a country should respond to the HIV epidemic. Whenever there was an HIV innovation -- whether it be a drug or a behavioural approach -- Thailand would be one of the first countries to adopt it. This began with the 100% Condom Programme in the early 1990s and continued all the way to 2016, when WHO declared that Thailand was the first country in Asia to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and syphilis, an impressive feat many countries are still hard-pressed to mimic. Thailand became one of the first middle-income countries in 2014 to embrace pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by supporting community-based organisations (CBOs) to test key populations, such as men who have sex with men and transgendered individuals, for HIV and provide this critical drug to them.
Sex ed needs revamping
Oped, Editorial, Published on 14/02/2023
» Valentine's Day has become an event that policymakers and advocacy groups in Thailand use to launch campaigns against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and other gender issues. This year is no different.
Raw deal for Covid patients
Oped, Editorial, Published on 17/03/2022
» Two weeks after the Health Ministry and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) rolled out a scheme for coronavirus patients with mild symptoms, its implementation remains a mess, riddled with too many loopholes.