Bangkok: The government has announced a significant development in the public health system, with a strong emphasis on the stability and improvement of the 30 baht universal healthcare scheme. The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed an allocation of 69 million baht to the Gold Card Fund, marking the largest budget since the project’s inception, and reassuring that the healthcare scheme will not face collapse.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman of the Prime Minister’s Office, addressed concerns about false reports claiming that the 30-baht universal healthcare project is financially unstable and could be terminated within three years. He emphasized the government’s dedication under Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra’s leadership to enhance the nation’s public health system. A substantial budget of 265,295 million baht has been earmarked for 2026 to support the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the highest allocation ever for the Gold Card Fund. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare for the populace.
The National Health Security Fund is focused on utilizing the Gold Card Fund budget efficiently, with a priority on technology integration, such as telemedicine, and expanding the National List of Essential Medicines to include newly developed drugs. There is also an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention through the ‘Thais Away from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)’ project, aimed at reducing the prevalence of diseases over time.
Mr. Jirayu highlighted that the budget allocation is indicative of the government’s flagship health policies, which aim for universal and equitable healthcare access. Furthermore, the NHSO has collaborated with the Thai private sector and Seiko Instruments from Japan to advance dental technology. This partnership includes developing new dental drills and establishing a manufacturing facility in Thailand, which is expected to reduce the annual import of dental drills worth about 3 billion baht, create domestic jobs, and enhance Thailand’s medical technology competitiveness globally.
Mr. Jirayu assured, “The 30-baht card will enhance care across all dimensions, with no reductions. The government consistently supports health policies with appropriate budget allocations. By 2026, increased and adjusted budgeting will ensure universal access to quality public health services from basic to advanced medical technologies. This includes measures to enable Thailand to produce its medical equipment, thereby reducing costs and improving public health service accessibility.”
Source: Thai News Agency