Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42307858›Full record

ArticleHealth economics review2026

Thailand's health financing resilience during COVID-19: leveraging universal health coverage to tackle the pandemic.

Aungsumalee Pholpark, Sikarn Issarachaiyos, Ilada Sooknark, Orawan Prasitsiriphon, Praewa Kulatnam, Papada Ranron, Sirithorn Khositchaiwat, Piya Hanvoravongchai, Yot Teerawattananon

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Article in Health economics review, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Aungsumalee PholparkFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. aungsumalee.pho@mahidol.ac.th.
Sikarn IssarachaiyosFaculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ilada SooknarkFaculty of Business, Economics, and Communication, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand.
Orawan PrasitsiriphonCollege of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Praewa KulatnamHealth Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Papada RanronHealth Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Sirithorn KhositchaiwatNational Health Foundation, Bangkok, Thailand.
Piya HanvoravongchaiFaculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Yot TeerawattananonHealth Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Funding

Fundamental Fund from the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) FFB670043/0401Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research, and Innovation (PMU-B) B41G670025
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic constituted a public health emergency in Thailand from March 2020 to October 2022, testing the resilience of the health financing system. This study establishes an analytical framework to examine Thailand's public health financing arrangements and their subsequent impacts on public hospital financial reserves during this crisis.

methodsThis mixed-methods study developed an analytical framework to examine Thailand's public health financing response. The study analyzed COVID-19 public health expenditure data (Fiscal Years (FY) 2020-2022) and financial data from 866 Ministry of Public Health hospitals (FY 2015-2022) using descriptive statistics and trend analysis. These quantitative findings were integrated with a thematic analysis of 21 key informant interviews.

resultsThailand enhanced health financing resilience through adaptive revenue mobilization and flexible resource allocation. Between FY 2020 and 2022, the government expanded fiscal space by mobilizing approximately US$13.78 billion via the Emergency Loan Decrees, Central Budget, and Social Security Fund. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) mechanisms expanded service coverage and expedited provider reimbursement. During delayed loan disbursements, public hospitals used internal financial reserves to bridge funding gaps and maintain service continuity. Consequently, net hospital reserves increased substantially by the pandemic's end compared to pre-pandemic baselines.

conclusionsThailand strategically leveraged its UHC system and mobilized emergency and pre-existing public funds to secure fiscal space and maintain system resilience. However, temporary funding influxes may mask localized resource strains on hospital financial reserves. To enhance future resilience, Thailand should establish a dedicated health emergency reserve fund, streamline extra-budgetary mechanisms, and adopt flexible procurement regulations.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health financingHealth financing resiliencePandemicThailand

Identifiers

PMID42307858
PMCPMC13595722

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.