This volume of ThaiHealth marks the report’s first decade of publication. During each of the last ten years, ThaiHealth focused on the previous year’s outstanding issues, chronicled key events and presented important information to the public. Some of these situations described in our reports have seen improvements while others are stuck without significant progress in the same place or simply recurrent difficulties. In order to solve complex problems we can understand that we need a complete rethinking and restructuring of society, as well as cooperation from all parts of the society itself.

In this 10th year anniversary volume, the ThaiHealth Working Group has selected five important ongoing situations for discussion and for each compiled related events chronologically to show a clear picture of developments. The aim of this special volume is to summarize actual events while avoiding analysis and commentaries. ThaiHealth’s duty is to record events for the benefit of learning for the future. The five situations chosen are: ongoing political conflict; the Deep South unrest; sexual health issues; natural and other disasters; and health system reform-a social innovation involving government agencies, civil society and the public at large.

Another special feature of this volume examines the National Health Indicators (NHIs) of the last decade. These indicators show how the Thai population has better health than before, especially relating to increased longevity and the decrease of some diseases. The health security system, which continues to improve since the health system reforms of ten years ago, also evidences progress. Today, all Thai citizens have health security and can access quality health care services. Even those with low income are protected when afflicted by diseases from high treatment expenses. However, some problems such as chronic diseases increased over the past ten years for Thai people.