Although the NHSO can contract with private providers, few private hospitals
and almost no private clinics or pharmacies in the provinces are capable of
providing the comprehensive range of services in the benefits package. As a result,
the vast majority of UCS members receive services from provider networks linked
to MOPH district hospitals. In larger cities other public and private hospitals are
able to serve as contractor providers, and some catchment populations have
been allocated to these networks. In 2010, 54.6% of the 3.7 million members living
in Bangkok were registered with private clinics and hospitals (see Table 5),
but the national average was far lower: only 5.7% of UCS members were registered
with private-sector networks in 2010.