Global Health & Medicine 2021;3(1):11-14.

For further collaboration on strengthening Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Partnership project between Japan and Thailand

Machida M, Miyashita Y

Thailand achieved Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in 2002 ahead of other low-middle income countries. Through its experiences, Thailand has actively assisted other developing countries in working towards UHC. However, Thailand is now facing new challenges such as increasing healthcare costs, differing service coverage and purchasing mechanisms among its three health care schemes, and the impact of a rapidly aging population on its health systems. Thailand requested technical support from the Japanese government. Japan achieved UHC in 1961 and its extensive experience of introducing and implementing UHC is a fitting example for Thailand and other countries struggling toward a stable health care system. Thus, the partnership project for Global Health and Universal Health Coverage was launched in July 2016 as a four-year flagship project for "North-South-South Cooperation". Japan and Thailand will further focus to support other countries to achieve UHC, which will be conducive to promoting leading roles of the two countries in the global health arena.

DOI: 10.35772/ghm.2020.01095

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