By early 2002, Thailand had achieved universal coverage (UC) of
healthcare for the whole populati ons. It is indeed a long march
towards UC. It took 27 years for Thailand to achieve UC since the fi rst
government pro-poor scheme in 1975, namely the social welfare
for the poor (Low Income Scheme) in 1975. Successive government
had applied “piece-meal” approach of gradual insurance coverage
extension to the non-poor using public subsidize voluntary insurance
scheme (Health Card Project) in 1983. The coverage of formal sector
private employee under mandatory triparti te payroll tax fi nanced
Social Security Scheme (SSS) had gradually extended from larger
(more than 20 employees) in 1990 to the smallest fi rms (more than
1 employee) in 2002.