Foundation, raised the idea of universal coverage among NGOs
after meeting with MOPH and HSRI health reformists who were
seeking new avenues for reform after failing to bring their own draft bill
before Parliament.
The civil society group launched an awareness-raising campaign
advocating equal benefits for all, increased participation of the
people in health management, and better consumer protection.
With technical support from the health reformists, the group
produced a draft National Health Security Bill and set out to gain thousands
of signatures. The 1997 Thai Constitution motivated civil society groups to participate
in the policy agenda-setting process and a new law in 1999 allowed
50,000 electors to propose a bill regarding citizens’ rights and the role of
state. The draft bill was submitted to Parliament in March 2001. However,
while Parliament was auditing the list of supporters, the TRT Government
completed its own draft bill, which was submitted for consideration in
November 2001. Even though Parliament accepted the Government’s
draft and rejected the people’s draft, fi ve members of the civil society
group were brought into the universal coverage policy formulation process
as members of the parliamentary commission set up for the second reading
of the draft bill. One year later, after a second and third reading, the National
Health Security Act was enacted on 18 November 2002 with very strong
support from civil society.