Goal and strategic objectives
The stated goal of the UCS is “to equally entitle all Thai citizens to quality health
care according to their needs, regardless of their socioeconomic status”. This goal
is based on the universality principle: the UCS was conceived as a scheme for
everybody, not one that targets only the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged.
The strategic objectives of the UCS are:
• to focus on health promotion and prevention as well as curative care;
• to emphasize the role of primary health care and the rational
use of effective and efficient integrated services;
• to foster proper referrals to hospitals;
• to ensure that subsidies on public health spending are pro-poor,
at the same time ensuring that all citizens are protected against
the financial risks of obtaining health care.