The analysis suggests that Thailand’s democratizati
on, created new actors in health
policymaking processes which had long been under co
ntrol of bureaucrats and
professionals. The 1997 Constitution encouraged a
more pluralistic political system.
Universal access to health was advocated by a group
of non-government organizations
who pushed to get UC through legislation and announ
ced their campaign a few months
before the 2001 election. NGO interest was parall
eled by a political party campaign,
announced in 2000 by the Thai-Rak Thai Party, and i
mplemented as UC when the Party
came to power.