Outline of the Project

Project Name

The Partnership Project for Global Health and Universal Health Coverage Phase 2

Country

Thailand

Date R/D Signed

September 30, 2020

Term of Cooperation

December 11, 2020 to December 10, 2023

Implementing Organization

Ministry of Public Health, National Health Security Office

Background

In 2002, Thailand launched the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) targeting the population that had not been insured by the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) and the Social Security Scheme (SSS). This significant health reform enabled 99.5 percent of the total population of Thailand to be covered by one of these three health schemes.

Thailand has been known worldwide for achieving Universal Health Coverage (hereinafter, UHC*) ahead of other low-middle income countries. Through its rich experiences, Thailand has actively assisted other developing countries in recent years in working towards UHC and played a key role as chairperson.

However, Thailand is now facing new challenges such as increasing healthcare costs, different service coverage and purchasing mechanisms among the three health schemes, and the impact of the rapidly aging population on the health systems. Financial sustainability and quality services are therefore of critical importance for the three health schemes.

Under these circumstances, Thailand requested support from the Japanese government. They learnt from Japan's experiences on how to manage social health insurance and health systems through the medical fee schedule and the roles of both central and local governments in the financial management of the health insurance. JICA implemented "The Partnership Project for Global Health and Universal Health Coverage (2015-2020)". This former project achieved results such as introducing fee schedule in Bangkok and spreading information about mother and child health book at International conference. Thailand and Japan confirm efficiency of those activities implemented by Thailand-Japan partnership. Thailand requested continuous support from Japanese government for a technical cooperation project based on the concept of partnership.

Consequently, it was found imperative for Thailand to 1)improve its UHC operation, 2) cooperate with Japan in helping other developing countries promote their efforts to achieve UHC, 3) promote the strong implementation of UHC at the international level. Thus, the Government of Thailand requested the Government of Japan for a technical cooperation project based on the concept of partnership.

* Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to essential health services without suffering financial hardship when paying for them. These include health promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

The Overall Goal

Partnerships between Thailand and Japan on UHC and global health are strengthened and used to support other countries.

Project Purpose

Capacity on UHC implementation in particular health financing and health workforce and global health of Thailand and other countries are strengthened

Outputs

1. Experiences on UHC are learnt and shared between Thailand and Japan to contribute to improving the UHC in both countries.
2. Capacity development for UHC implementation and global health in other countries is organized.
3. Practical practices and lessons learnt in UHC implementation and global health (mainly from Japan and Thailand) are shared and promoted at national, regional and global levels.

Project Activities

Overall-1. Establish Joint Project Management Team (compulsory) and Working Teams (if needed).

Overall-2. Conduct regular meetings of JPMT.

1-1-a.

Analyze the situation and identify a maximum of ten sub-topics of health financing and health workforce for strengthening UHC implementation.

*JPMT can add some other issues if JCC members agree.

1-1-b.	Conduct capacity development activities on identified sub-topics of health financing and health workforce.
1-1-c.	Conduct collaborative research activities on identified sub-topics of health financing and health workforce e.g. DRG (Diagnosis Related Group).
1-2-a.	Submit recommendations to policy makers.

"2-1-a.

Conduct strategic meeting with stakeholders in priority counties (e.g. Lao PDR, Viet Nam) in order to explore possibility and feasibility of the collaboration

*The project can add the priority countries considering budget, need, and target areas etc. if JCC members agree.

** A few countries / two countries / maximum two countries will be selected at the initial stage.

***Priority countries: countries which the Project closely work with"

2-1-b.	Conduct situational and needs analyses of prioritized countries (e.g. Lao PDR, Viet Nam)
2-1-c.	Develop plans of collaboration for UHC promotion in prioritized countries (e.g. Lao PDR and Viet Nam)
2-1-d.	Conduct cooperation activities for UHC implementation in prioritized countries (e.g. Lao PDR and Viet Nam)
2-1-e.	Conduct assessment of cooperation activities for UHC implementation in prioritized countries (e.g. Lao PDR and Viet Nam)
2-2-a.	Identify potential collaboration and develop an annual plan of the project to partially support Global Health Diplomacy workshops
2-2-b.	Implement the plan in 2-2-a
2-3-a.	Identify potential collaboration and develop an annual plan of the project to partially support other activities related to UHC, in particular health financing and health workforces.
2-3-b.	Implement the plan in 2-3-a
2-3-c.	Share the information related to UHC implementation with participating countries (e.g. Kenya, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines), depending on requests from each country.
3-1-a.	Develop the concept of resource center which organizes useful information for UHC and global health promotion and agree on its operation and management plan with relevant organizations.
3-1-b.	Establish the resource center on NHSO's or other website
3-1-c.	Launch and promote the resource center for public use.
3-2-a.	Identify potential forum and role and contribution of the project.
3-2-b.	Implement 3-2-a.

Inputs
[Japanese side]

1. Dispatch of Experts
   (1) Long-term experts
   (2) Short-term experts
2. Training (Short-term, Long-term)
3. Local expenses for the project activities
4. Equipment if necessary

Inputs
[Thailand side]

1. Allocation of personnel
   1) Project Directors
   2) Project Managers
   3) Personnel (administrative and technical) from Counterpart organizations and relevant organizations
2. Project office facilities, equipment and materials: Office space with necessary equipment and facilities for JICA Experts and project staff members
3. Local Costs
4. Others