The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) was established in 1942 according to the Reorganization of Ministries, Sub-Ministries and Departments Act, B.E. 2485 (1942). The MOPH is the national health authority responsible for formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of health-related policies. It also has a regulatory function, consumer protection, implementation of related public health laws, and health service provision which includes health promotion, prevention, disease control, treatment, and rehabilitation
Thailand develops 20-Year National Strategic Plan for Public Health 2017-2036 with the goal of “Healthier People. Happier Health Care Workers. Sustainable Health System.” applying four strategies of excellence of the MOPH including 1) Promotion, Prevention and Protection (PP&P) Excellence; 2) Service Excellence; 3) People Excellence; and 4) Governance Excellence. The MOPH serves as one of the focal points assigned to advance the program implementation by focusing on public and multi-sectoral engagement so as to attain the ultimate goal of health and well-being of all Thais.
Vision: To become a key health agency that mobilizes public and social engagement for the health and well-being of Thai people.
Mission: Developing and maintaining a multi-sectoral engagement-based and sustainable health care system.
Core value: There has been raised the value of MOPH is to:
M= Mastery
O=Originality
P= People centered
H= Humility
Roles and Contribution to UHC: In 1980s, the MOPH hugely invested in government health-care delivery systems for full geographical coverage in all sub-districts, districts, and provinces. Since then, the MOPH developed key policies to strengthen capacities of supply side including human resource production, compulsory public services after graduation (medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses), national list of essential medicines, social welfare for the poor and vulnerable groups (elderly, disable people and children under 12 years old), and village health volunteers supporting the health activities in communities throughout the country.
Thailand has achieved the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) since 2002. All Thais are covered by three public health insurance schemes; the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) for civil servants and their dependents, the Social Health Insurance (SHI) for employees in private sector, and the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for the rest of population not covered by other two schemes. The extensive geographical coverage of health-care delivery, a comprehensive benefit package free at point of service, and increased capacity of MOPH health-care facilities are the main factors contribute to improved utilization and benefit with a minimization of catastrophic health-care expenditure, medical impoverishment, and unmet health need.
