Thailand's Exemplary Health System

Thailand, despite its status as a middle-income country by World Bank classifications, boosts an impressive and comprehensive infrastructure for universal healthcare coverage for its nearly 70 million citizens [1]. Even more exceptional is that Thailand extends this coverage to non-Thai migrant workers, the majority of whom come from its neighboring Burma.

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A close examination of these various schemes reveals parallels with the American health insurance market; the theme of patient-citizenship; an invisible class of migrants who may be missing from programs that in theory, should be all-inclusive; and the emergence of but multiple actors including nongovernmental organizations and hospitals carrying

newfound responsibilities in shaping and providing health.

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Extending the historically-deep understanding of the fragile Burmese health infrastructure, a geographically-broad analysis

of the Thai system reveals that Thailand offers much more comprehensive, accessible, and reliable access to care even for its non-citizens than they would obtain from their native countries. Swipe through the below panels to learn more about 1) universal health coverage for Thai nationals and

2) health coverage extended to non-Thai residents in Thailand.

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