Thailand Office of Insurance Commission publishes study and roadmap to shape a national strategy for voluntary health insurance

Thailand’s Office of Insurance Commission released the findings of its project to develop a strategic plan for Thailand’s voluntary health insurance system and presented the results at a seminar designed to gather stakeholder views. The project, carried out in cooperation with the Thailand Development Research Institute, is intended to strengthen voluntary health insurance as a tool for managing health risks and as a complement to public healthcare, with a focus on improving access to cover. The study assesses the structure and landscape of Thailand’s voluntary health insurance market and sets out both short- and long-term strategic directions, supported by an action plan and roadmap to better link voluntary health insurance with public welfare systems. Priority areas include promoting preventive healthcare, applying technology to risk management, developing products aligned with public needs, and upgrading data infrastructure and inter-agency data connectivity to improve transparency and efficiency, reflecting pressures from population ageing, rising healthcare costs and medical technology advances. Input from participating government bodies, insurers, public health stakeholders and other contributors at the seminar is intended to inform the next phase of setting an appropriate direction for the development of Thailand’s voluntary health insurance system.