Study Visit on   “Role of civil society in supporting UHC:   learning and sharing experience between Myanmar and Thailand”

1.Background Well functioning health service provision in particular primary health care is an important foundation in achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Indicated in the National Health Plan (NHP) 2017‐2021, Myanmar aims to strengthen the country’s health system and pave the way towards UHC, choosing a path that is explicitly pro‐poor. The goal of NHP 2017‐2021 is to extend access to a Basic Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) to the entire population by 2020 while increasing financial protection. In order to move this agenda forward, involvement of multisector including policy makers, civil society, and health professions is key success factor. All stakeholders should share the same vision and view by having dialogue on key strategies for UHC implementation based on the country context. Learning from international or regional experiences can also accelerate understanding of policy implementation for all. Thailand’s experience of primary health care development and financial risk protection as well as evidence based policy development will be key inputs in the process of defining the UHC architecture for Myanmar 2. Objective of the program The overall objectives are to understand role of civil society in supporting UHC and how health systems in Thailand is developed; this includes health workforce, health delivery systems development in particular primary care; in order to draw lessons for Myanmar health systems development as a strong platform for implementing UHC. Specific objectives include; 1.1 To learn how Primary Health Care (PHC) is functioning, and how civil society and local government contribute to PHC in terms of health promotion, prevention and surveillance 1.2 To better understand how voice of civil society is raised by NHSO in order to improve its functions 1.3 To share tacit knowledge and experience in policy formulation and policy implementation of the Thai universal health coverage (UHC) and its outcomes