Coverage of public reimbursement scheme for traffic accident victims in Thailand.

Traffic injury is a major threat to public health. Loss of lives and property due to traffic accidents raise concern not only among the public but also the government. As a result, the Motor Vehicle Accident Victim Protection Act was enacted in order to provide compensation for traffic accident victims and their relatives in 1992. Three years after the Accident Victim Protection Act came into effect, this study, through telephone survey, revealed that less than 10 per cent of traffic accident victims were reimbursed for medical care cost by the law. The process of reimbursement was found to be cumbersome. In addition, only 18 per cent of motor vehicles were found holding insurance policies as required by the law.