1 April 2001

‘30-baht healthcare’ scheme introduced

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s populist 30-baht (around 70 US cents) healthcare programme was launched.

By the year-end it had expanded to include anti-retroviral drugs to tackle HIV/AIDS. Patients who already had health insurance, or social security coverage, were not eligible for the 30-baht rate, but plenty of sick people were checked by doctors and given care. ‘How nice it would be if we could have healthy teeth paying only 30 baht,’ said Malai Phanchana, a patient who was visiting a dentist.

1 April 2001

‘30-baht healthcare’ scheme introduced

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s populist 30-baht (around 70 US cents) healthcare programme was launched.

By the year-end it had expanded to include anti-retroviral drugs to tackle HIV/AIDS. Patients who already had health insurance, or social security coverage, were not eligible for the 30-baht rate, but plenty of sick people were checked by doctors and given care. ‘How nice it would be if we could have healthy teeth paying only 30 baht,’ said Malai Phanchana, a patient who was visiting a dentist.