A National Health Security Office (NHSO) committee gave the green light for Covid-19 to be listed under the Universal Health Coverage – from prevention and diagnosing to healthcare and rehabilitation – and has also approved a budget of Bt1 billion to support hospitals nationwide to fight the coronavirus, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. 
He confirmed that Thailand is currently in the second phrase, which covers the virus spread or local transmission. However, the NHSO has to prepare the money in advance as the global situation is seeing an upward trend in the number of infections. 
The NHSO budget of Bt1 billion will cover Covid-19 tests. If this amount proves to be insufficient, the office will submit a request to the government for Bt3.5 billion. This budget will not come at the expense of other medical care. 
The office has also prepared Bt6.2 billion to pay for maintaining medical equipment used to combat the spread of the coronavirus. 
Aside from the Universal Health Coverage, there is the National Health Security fund that local offices could use to purchase medical supplies such as masks and alcohol germ-killer gels to prevent the Covid-19 virus from spreading.

Covid-19 now under Universal Health Coverage: Anutin