A budget of over Bt265 billion has been officially set for Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) “gold card” holders, under the National Health Security Office (NHSO), for the 2026 fiscal year.
The NHSO’s deputy secretary-general, Dr. Atthaporn Limpanyalert, told the media this week that a notice from the NHSO board endorsing the budget has been published in the Royal Gazette, giving gold card holders nationwide access to UCS benefits from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
Dr. Atthaporn, who is also the NHSO spokesman, said that the 2026 fiscal year budget has been allocated to nine categories. They include:
- Over Bt198 billion for lump-sum healthcare services for both outpatients and inpatients
- Over Bt4.5 billion for HIV/AIDS patients
- Over Bt16 billion for patients with end-stage chronic kidney failure
- Over Bt1.7 billion for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases
An additional over Bt1.4 billion for hospitals in remote or high-risk areas, including those in the violence-plagued southernmost region
- An additional over Bt3.7 billion for primary public health services
- Over Bt3.8 billion in support for local administrative organisations
- An initial over Bt562 million for gold card holders and providers
- Over Bt29 billion for health promotion and prevention campaigns
The over Bt198 billion lump sum, accessible to more than 47.5 million Thais, averages Bt4,173.04 per head, representing an increase of over Bt16 billion from the 2025 fiscal year. Of this amount, more than Bt133 billion is earmarked for cardholders’ healthcare services, while the rest covers public health payrolls.
According to the NHSO spokesman, each outpatient will be entitled to Bt1,448.86 in healthcare support in the 2026 fiscal year, a 4.14% year-on-year increase, while each inpatient will be eligible for a Bt1,850.02 subsidy, a 3.31% year-on-year increase.
