Strategic purchasing and health system efficiency: A comparison of two financing schemes in Thailand.

ABSTRACT: Strategic purchasing is an essential health financing function. This paper compares the strategic purchasing practices of Thailand's two tax-financed health insurance schemes, the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) and the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS), and identifies factors contributing to successful universal health coverage outcomes by analysing the relationships between the purchaser and government, providers and members. The study uses a cross-sectional mixed-methods design, including document review and interviews with 56 key informants. The Comptroller General Department (CGD) of Ministry of Finance manages CSMBS as one among civil servant welfare programmes. Their purchasing is passive. Fee for service payment for outpatient care has resulted in rapid cost escalation a

SUBMITTER: Patcharanarumol W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5880375 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature