DOCSLIB.ORG

The National Family Planning Program a Sector Report Thailand HLE Cotpy Public Disclosure Authorized

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The National Family Planning Program a Sector Report Thailand HLE Cotpy Public Disclosure Authorized Report No. 724a-TH The National Family Planning Program A Sector Report Thailand HLE COtPY Public Disclosure Authorized November 3, 1975 Population Projects Department Not for Public Use U Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Document of the World Bank This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS Currency Unit = Baht (#) US$1.00 = % 20.00 US$1 million = g 20 million g 1.00 = US$0.05 i 1 million = US$50,000 INITIALS AND ACRONYMS ANM = Assistant Nurse Midwife ARD Accelerated Rural Development AV = Audio-Visual CBFPS = Community-Based Family Planning Services CBD = Community-Based Delivery CBR = Crude Birth Rate DEIDS = Development and Evaluation of Integrated Delivery Services DSCS = Development Support Communications Service (UNDP) H.C. = Health Center IEC = Information, Education, Communication IPPF = International Planned Parenthood Federation (London) MCH = Maternal and Child Health MCH/FP = Maternal and Child Health/Family Planning MOI = Ministry of Interior MOPH = Ministry of Public Health NESDB = National Economic and Social Development Board (formerly designated the NEDB) NFPP = National Family Planning Program NRR = Net Reproduction Rate PPAT = Planned Parenthood Federation of Thailand RTG = Royal Thai Government UNFPA = United Nations Fund for Population Activities USAID = United States Agency for International Development WHO = World Health Organization Thai Name Administrative Units Number English Equivalent Changwat Province 70 Amphoe District 516 Tambon Sub-District 4,600 approximately Muban Village 45,000 approximately Estimated GNP ner capita (1972): US$220 THE GROWTH OF THAILAND'S POPULATION, 1850 - 2000 Populat. in Millions 1102 A - 107.4 million 100 2 9o 7 a- 89.6 million 80_E _ _ A - If 1970 fertility continued B- if 50% decline in 70 - fertility by 2000 C- If fertility declines 65.7 million as fast as assumed 60 - by Thai targets for 1976 and 1981. 53 ** i 50 -5 40- 30- 20~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~. 10 '850 1911 1919 1929 1937 1947 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 YEAR ;1911 1970 sho~* census years) World Bank-9567(R) (I 91 1 - 1970 show census years) Definition of Demographic Terms Acceptors Persons accepting the practice of contraception. Average Family Size = Average number of persons in the family, i.e., surviving children and parents. Age-Specific Fertility Rates = Number of live births per year to 1,000 women in five-year age group during 15-49 years. Crude Birth Rate Number of live births per year per 1,000 of population. Crude Death Rate = Number of deaths per 1,000 of population. Dependency Ratio Number of persons of 14 years or under, plus 65 or over, divided by the population 'aged 15 to 64 years. A frequently used but not very satisfac- tory measure of the balance between non-producing and producing members of society. Expectation of Life at Birth Average number of years an infant, exposed to a given set of mortality rates, is expected to live. General Fertility Rate = Number of live births per year per 1,000 women aged 15-49 years. Gross Reproduction Rate = The average number of daughters a woman will bear if she experiences a given set of age-specific birth rates throughout the reproductive ages, with no allowance for mortality over this period. Infant Mortality Rate = Annual deaths of infants 0-12 months per 1,000 live births during t:he same year. Maternal Mortality Rate = Number of deaths as a result of complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, per 1,000 live births. Net Reproduction Rate = Same as the gross reproduction rate but adjusted for mortality of women over their reproductive years. A net reproduction rate of 1.0 when reached, indicates that the country will be able to reach zero population growth rate after five to six de- cades. The population continues to increase after NRR has reached 1, because of the "above-replacement daughters already born after the NRR fell to 1.0. Rate of Population Growth = Rate of natural increase adjusted for (net) immi- gration or emigration. Rate of Natural Increase = Difference between crude birth and crude death rate --usually expressed as a percentage. Total Fertility Rate = The average number of children a woman will have if she experiences a given set of age-specific birth rates throughout her reproductive life. A good in- dex to measure fertility changes as it is indepen- dent of age and sex distribution. THAILAND THE NATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM: A SECTOR REPORT FOREWORD 1. This report brings together in one document a considerable amount of information about Thailand's demographic situation and the Government's National Family Planning Program. Although much is already known about these matters, an independent review of the program seemed timely in view of the approach of the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (1976-81). Con- sequently, the Government invited the Bank to conduct a Sector Review which might assist it in preparing the Fourth Plan and which might also help external donors, including the Bank, to formulate their plans for financing population activities during the next Plan period. 2. As readers will quickly learn, the Sector Review mission formed a high opinion of the National Family Planning Program. The Program has in fact achieved a rate of family planning acceptance whic:h is exceeded by only four or five developing countries. A number of reasons appear to explain why the Program is working so well. One major reason is the flex- ible, pragmatic way in which the Ministry of Public Health has dealt with questions of technical and administrative policy involved in the adminis- tration of specific family planning services -- an area of great importance to the availability and accessibility of services. Another reason is t'he existence of a health network that is relatively well-developed, despite the fact that many people still live beyond its present reach. A third major reason for Program success is the high quality of foreign technical assistance, and the large amounts of grant assistance which external donors have provided to help get the Program started. Finally, Thai culture seems unusually receptive to family planning; Chapter III of the full report tries to describe why this is so. 3. The family planning Program in Thailand, unlike that in many countries, is characterized as supply-constrained rather than demand-constrained. This means that for the next few years more new acceptors can be recruited by extending and improving the system for delivering family planning services than by trying to educate and motivate people who are already within range of services but who for one reason or another do not choose to use them. The report does not dismiss information, education, and communication activ- ities as unimportant; far from it. But for the next few years, continuing attention to the extension of services seems more important than worrying about a limiting lack of demand. The report pays considerable attention to the various channels available for the delivery of contraceptives and other family planning services. It urges that the National Family Planning Program adopt the broadest possible definition of the Program so that strategic plan- ning will not overlook networks, private as well as public, which can serve as resources for attaining national population objectives. - ii - 4. The service network of the Ministry of Public Health is likely to remain the dominant delivery network in the total system, accounting for well over half of all active users of family planning services. Neverthe- less, major contributions to national objectives can be made by the private commercial sector, by Government health-delivery networks outside the Ministry of Public Health (notably the University hospitals, the Ministry of Interior, and the Bangkok Municipality) and by the promising but still unproven Community-Based Distribution experiments which have recently started. The primary role played by the Ministry of Public Health means that the expansion of its network will be of great importance to the spread of family planning, although the report emphasizes that expansion decisions should be based primarily on broader considerations of health services delivery. One major extension of the health-delivery system that may be of great importance for family planning is the Ministry's plan to appoint a large number of village health volunteers. This new class of part-time health auxiliaries would be authorized, after suitable training, to distrib- ute pills and other contraceptives. 5. The report sees no need for any major organizational changes in the Program. Some minor changes, plus some increase in permanent staffing, are considered necessary. As the Program will expand in size by about 75 percent by 1981, more money will be needed. The present National Family Planning Program (even when broadly defined) is not now an expensive activity (about Bt.100 million per year = US$5 million) and is unlikely to become so. Asubstantial share of total costs can be, and are being, paid for by clients, just as for most health services in Thailand. Nevertheless, the Government budget faces sharply higher allocations for family planning during the Fourth Plan, partly to meet the costs of program expansion and partly because the Government is expected to take over from external donors a much higher proportion of total program costs, now carried 80-90 percent by foreign grant assistance. Even if the family planning appropriation expands by 400 percent during the Fourth Plan, it will still account for only about 7-8 percent of the Ministry of Public Health's 1981 budget. This is an insignificant fraction of the overall Government budget, especially for a program of such importance to the long-run future of the country.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Survey of Royal Thai Traffic Police in a Northeastern Province of Thailand
    Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 15 No. 1 January-April 2017 GENERAL ARTICLE Response to road traffic injuries: a survey of Royal Thai Traffic Police in a Northeastern Province of Thailand Bijaya Shrestha1, Oranut Pacheun2, Chaweewon Boonshuyar3 and Manash Shrestha1 1 MPH, Department of Society and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand 73170 2 Dr.PH, Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Klong 1, Klong Luang District, Prathumthani, Thailand 12121 3 MSPH, Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Klong 1, Klong Luang District, Prathumthani, Thailand 12121 Corresponding author: Manash Shrestha Email address: [email protected] Received: 24 March 2017 Revised: 17 April 2017 Accepted: 30 April 2017 Available online: April 2017 Abstract Shrestha B, Pacheun O, Boonshuyar C. and Shrestha M. Response to road traffic injuries: a survey of Royal Thai traffic police in a Northeastern Province of Thailand. J Pub Health Dev.2017;15(1):101-112 Timely and appropriate response to road traffic accidents can reduce the mortality and severe morbidity associated with it. Traffic police are one of the first responders, and could play a vital role in pre-hospital care of road traffic injuries (RTI). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess knowledge, experience, and practice of Royal Thai traffic police in responding to RTI, and the association between respondent characteristics and their practice of responding to RTI. Self-administered questionnaires were employed among 123 traffic policemen of Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Descriptive statistics and chi square tests were utilized to analyze the data.
    [Show full text]
  • Thailand HIT Case Study
    Thailand HIT Case Study center for health and aging Thongchai Thavichachart, CEO, Thailand Health Information Technology and Policy Lab Center of Excellence for Life Sciences Narong Kasitipradith, President, Thai Medical Informatics Association Summary For over twenty years, both public and private hospitals have been trying to take advantage of the benefits of IT to improve health services in Thailand, yet varying resources and requirements of each institution have made for scattered, unharmonious HIT development throughout the country. The Ministry of Public Health made several attempts over the last ten years to develop a nationwide electronic medical record. However, hospitals responded unenthusiastically to the lack of immediate incentives and perceived benefits for each institution in exchange for the investment that building a common system for data sharing would require. Nevertheless, in 2007 an EMR exchange network remains in development, with the 21st century attempt likely to bring about new success in this area. HIT Adoption At present all 82 government provincial and large private hospitals in Thailand use some form of IT internally to manage drug dispensing, receipts, outpatient card searching, and appointment booking. The electronic medical record exchange system initiative in Thailand currently involves a few public and private institutions with a clear goal of supporting the medical tourism industry. This small but advanced partnership will act as the pilot project to help develop a model for wider coverage and a more comprehensive, farther-reaching system in the future. Hospitals share this information externally through hard copies, such as claims for health insurance. Most hospitals have unique software programs that are designed specifically for their internal use and operate quite comfortably within each institution’s legacy IT systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Healthcare & Medical Technologies (Thailand Market Study)
    Healthcare & Medical Technologies Thailand Market Study FEBRUARY 2017 © Copyright EU Gateway | Business Avenues The information and views set out in this study are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of EU Gateway | Business Avenues and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. The purpose of this report is to give European companies selected for participation in the EU Gateway | Business Avenues Programme an introductory understanding of the target markets countries and support them in defining their strategy towards those markets. For more information, visit www.eu-gateway.eu. EU Gateway to Thailand Central Management Unit Thailand Market Study February 2017 Submitted to the European Commission on 10 February 2017 Healthcare & Medical Technologies – Thailand Market Study - Page 3 of 107 Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Original Article Manpower Mix in Private Hospitals in Thailand : A
    Original Article Manpower Mix in Private Hospitals in Thailand : A Census Report Suwat Kittidilokkul MD., M.PH., MA. Viroj Tangcharoensathien MD., Ph.D. Health Systems Research Institute, Thailand Abstract This paper provides detailed information on manpower in private hospitals in Thailand. Results were drawn from the 1990-1992 private hospital census. Results showed that hospitals registered in the Stock Exchange of Thailand had the highest numbers of full time physicians and professional nurses compared with other types of hospitals, such as non-profit foundations, companies and polyclinics. We found variation in staffing patterns in terms of full and part time categories between hospitals in Bangkok and upcountry. Hospitals in the Stock Exchange Market had the highest productivities. During 1990-1992, the percent increase per annum of throughput showed high demand for private hospital services. In Bangkok, outpatient visits increased by 19% per annum ; hospitalisation by 13% ; hospital days by 7%. Increase in demand for intensive care was extra-ordinarily high during this period ; it rose by 31% during 1990-1992, requiring further indepth exploration to explain in the phenomena. The study provided the first comprehensive information on the number of different part time and full time hospital manpower categories in the private sector in 1992 and the percent increase per annum during 1990-1992. It can be used to forecast demand for manpower in private hospitals both in Bangkok and different regions as well as the possible impact on public hospital staffing. Introduction During the early 1990s, there was a significant shifting of qualified trained doctors from the public to private sector, as a result of the private hospital industry boom which stimulated great demand for specialists, nurses, pharmacists and others.
    [Show full text]
  • Cost of Critically Ill Surgical Patients in Thailand: a Prospective Analysis of a Multicenter THAI-SICU Study
    Cost of Critically Ill Surgical Patients in Thailand: A Prospective Analysis of a Multicenter THAI-SICU Study Sunisa Chatmongkolchart MD*1, Kaweesak Chittawatanarat MD, PhD*2, Osaree Akaraborworn MD, MSc*3, Chanatthee Kitsiripant MD*1, the THAI-SICU study group *1 Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand *2 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand *3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand Objective: To quantify the total cost per admission and daily cost of critically ill surgical patients and cost attributable to Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, invasive mechanical ventilation and major complications in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) including sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute lung injury (ALI), acute kidney injury (AKI), cardiac arrest, and myocardial infarction. Material and Method: A multicentre, prospective, observational, cost analysis study was carried out in SICU of five university hospitals in Thailand. Patients of age over 18 admitted to SICU (more than 6 hours) from 18 April 2011 to 30 November 2012 were recruited.The total SICU cost per admission (in Thai baht currency year 2011-2012) were recorded using hospital accounting database. Average daily SICU cost was calculated from total ICU cost divided by the ICU length of stay.The occurrence of sepsis, major cardiac and respiratory complications and duration of invasive mechanical ventila- tion were studied. Results: A total of 3,055 patients with 12,592 ICU-days admitted to SICU during the study period. The median (IQR) ICU- length of stay was 2 (1, 4) days.
    [Show full text]
  • Thailand, a Beauty Hub for Everyone?
    I n t e r n a t i o n a l M a r k e t i n g M a s t e r T h e s i s E F O 7 0 5 Thailand, A Beauty Hub for Everyone? ( Internationalizing Thai Aesthetic Surgery ) D AT E : J u n e 4, 2008 T u t o r : T o b i a s E l t e b r a n d t A u t h o r s G r o u p 2000 : J i t m a n e e P u l l a w a n 7 9 0 9 1 8 K a n t a r a S i n h a n e t i 8 1 0 6 0 8 ABSTRACT Subject / term: Business Studies / VT2008 Title: Thailand a beauty hub for everyone? Internationalizing Thai aesthetic surgery Author(s): Group 2000 Kantara Sinhaneti Jitmanee Pullawan Tutor: Tobias Eltebrandt Abstract: Introduction: Aesthetic surgery becomes another option of beauty. Interested Patients seeking for choices offered outside their homeland for more benefits. Thailand maybe one of those choices people is now interested in. Thai aesthetic industry may prove to be one of the most wanted destinations because of its expertise and relatively low cost with impressive service. Problem: “How should Thailand improve its Aesthetic service attractiveness to drive its potential to the level of internationalization?” Purpose: This thesis aim to understand Thai aesthetic surgery business and expect to conduct the idea of how to improve the attractiveness of aesthetic service in Thailand by find out international demand then analyze advantages of Thai aesthetic surgery and what can be improve to serve international customers’ demand.
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to Health & Wellness Holidays in Thailand
    HEALING HARMONY A Guide to Health & W ellness Holidays in T hailand HEALING HARMONY A Guide to Health & Wellness Holidays in Thailand Chiva-Som International Health Resort CREDITS Published by born Distinction Co., Ltd. 2044/20 New Petchburi Road, Bangkapi, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10310 Thailand www.borndistinction.com Working Team for This Book Editor in Chief: Nuengnimmarn Na Nakorn Project Director: Jidapa Julakasilp Project Manager: Wanida Tirapas Advisor: Dr. Prapa Wongphaet, Dr. Anthony Perillo, Todd A. Nagle Content Editor: Jeff Petry, Todd A. Nagle, Jeremy Kempler-Johanson Proofreader: James Haft, Bonita Rose-Aimee Kennedy, Susanne Robinson Designer: Chira CH., J. Janjaturonrasamee, Asana Yuman Illustrations Assistant: Sasithorn Namamaka Editorial Assistant: Manatsawee Ketudat, Nipattra Weerathong, Santi Ngamlert, Kanyapak Chaipun, Sawarin Siriyong, Researcher: Sansanee Khurana, Panhathai Khaosawee Copyright © 2011 born Distinction Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without prior written permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in Bangkok, Thailand Healing Harmony: A Guide to Health and Wellness Holidays in Thailand ISBN: 978-616-90997-1-0 Chiva-Som International Health Resort MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER It’s proven that smiling relieves stress, eases anxiety, boosts the immune system and lowers blood pressure, as well as releasing natural biological chemicals within our bodies that help reduce pain while boosting our mood and increasing happiness. The stress- free environment of our ‘Land of Smiles’ is the perfect place to not only recuperate from procedures, but also achieve better results through faster healing processes. Not only can you find a multitude of medical/wellness solutions in major cities such as Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya, but also throughout the country with therapies available in smaller cities like Chiang Rai, or island paradises like Koh Chang.
    [Show full text]
  • Bangkok Medical Center BANGKOK DUSIT MEDICAL SERVICES Public Company Limited "Bangkok Medical Center Is Where Advances in Medicine Meet with Compassion" Contents
    ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Bangkok Medical Center BANGKOK DUSIT MEDICAL SERVICES Public Company Limited "Bangkok Medical Center is where advances in medicine meet with compassion" Contents ë Message from the Board of Directors 2 ë Board of Directors' Profile 4 ë Report of the Audit Committee 10 ë General Information 11 ë Juristic Persons in which the Company Holds 10% of Shares or Greater 12 ë Financial Overview 15 ë Nature of Business 18 ë Research and Development 29 ë Industry Outlook and Competitions 31 ë Future Projects 34 ë Risk Factors 38 ë Shareholders Structure and Management 41 ë Corporate Governance 49 ë Transactions with Related Parties 54 ë Explanation and Analysis of Operational Results and Financial Status 57 ë Responsibility of the Board of Directors to the Financial Statements 59 ë Financial Statements and Auditor Report 62 Message from the Board of Directors The Board of Directors is pleased to present our dear shareholders with the operational results of Bngkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited for 2005 as follows: All countries have been affected by the gradually rising oil prices and cost of living in 2005, more serious natural disasters, political instability in many countries and new epidemics, resulting in stagnant and receding businesses. Nevertheless, people continue to have illnesses while medical advancements are still being made. People have become more concerned about their health and private hospitals need to keep themselves abreast of new medical developments. They could not afford to remain idle as before. Hospitals need the latest medical equipments which allow early diagnosis, expert clinicians in each tract for the diagnosis and the treatment of diseases involvingall systems of the body.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kingdom of Thailand Health System Review
    Health Systems in Transition Vol. 5 No. 5 2015 The Kingdom of Thailand Health System Review Written by: Pongpisut Jongudomsuk, National Health Security Office, Nonthaburi, Thailand Samrit Srithamrongsawat, National Health Security Office, Nonthaburi, Thailand Walaiporn Patcharanarumol, International Health Policy Program, Nonthaburi, Thailand Supon Limwattananon, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Supasit Pannarunothai, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand Patama Vapatanavong, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakorn Prathom, Thailand Krisada Sawaengdee, International Health Policy Program, Nonthaburi, Thailand Pinij Fahamnuaypol, Health Information Systems Development Office, Nonthaburi, Thailand Editor: Viroj Tangcharoensathien, International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies i WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data The Kingdom of Thailand health system review (Health Systems in Transition, Vol. 5 No. 5 2015) 1. Delivery of healthcare. 2. Health care economics and organization. 3. Health care reform. 4. Health system plans – organization and administration. 5. Thailand. I. Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. II. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. ISBN 978 92 9061 713 6 (NLM Classification: WA 540 JT3) © World Health Organization 2015 (on behalf of the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies) All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed through the WHO website (www.who.int/about/licensing/copyright_form/en/index.html).
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Tourism in Thailand: a Cross-Cultural Study of Medical Touristsì Decision-Making Factors
    i Medical tourism in Thailand: A cross-cultural study of medical touristsì decision-making factors Sasithorn Sonpiam A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management (International Program) Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus 2015 Copyright of Prince of Songkla University ii Thesis Title Medical tourism in Thailand: A cross-cultural study of medical touristsì decision-making factors Author Ms. Sasithorn Sonpiam Major Program Hospitality and Tourism Management (International Program) _____________________________________________________________________ Major Advisor Examining Committee: ........................................................ ..............................................Chairperson (Dr. Ilian Assenov) (Assoc. Prof. Manat Chaisawat) ......................................................................... (Dr. Tatiyaporn Jarumaneerat) ......................................................................... (Dr. Ilian Assenov) The Graduate School, Prince of Songkla University, has approved this thesis as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Business Administration Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management (International Program) ................................................................ (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teerapol Srichana) Dean of Graduate School iii This is to certify that the work here submitted is the result of the candidateìs own investigations. Due acknowledgement has been made
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19 Response in Thailand and Its Implications on Future Preparedness
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Article COVID-19 Response in Thailand and Its Implications on Future Preparedness Wijitbusaba Marome 1 and Rajib Shaw 2,* 1 Research Unit in Urban Futures and Policy and Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, 99, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; [email protected] 2 Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Endo 5322, Fujisawa 252-0882, Japan * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Thailand has been affected by COVID-19, like other countries in the Asian region at an early stage, and the first case was reported as early as mid-January 2020. Thailand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been guided by the “Integrated Plan for Multilateral Cooperation for Safety and Mitigation of COVID-19”. This paper analyses the health resources in the country and focuses on the response through community-level public health system and legislative measures. The paper draws some lessons on future preparedness, especially with respect to the four priorities of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. At the end, the paper puts some key learning for future preparedness. While Thailand’s response to COVID-19 has been effective in limiting the spread of the disease, it falls short at being able to address the multiple dimensions of the crisis such as the economic and social impacts. The socioeconomic sectors have been hardest hit, with significant impact on tourism sectors. Sociopolitical system also plays an important role in governance and decision-making for pandemic responses. The analysis suggests that one opportunity for enhancing resilience in Thailand is to strive for more multilevel governance that engages with various stakeholders and to support grassroots and community-level networks.
    [Show full text]
  • Professional Caregiving, Universal Health Security, and Tuberculosis Control in Thailand and Its Border with Myanmar
    Health Care on the Border: Professional Caregiving, Universal Health Security, and Tuberculosis Control in Thailand and Its Border With Myanmar The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:40050162 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA Health Care on the Border: Professional Caregiving, Universal Health Security, and Tuberculosis Control in Thailand and Its Border with Myanmar A dissertation presented by Wirun Limsawart to The Department of Anthropology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of Social Anthropology Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts April 2018 © 2018 Wirun Limsawart All rights reserved. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ii Dissertation Advisors: Byron Good, Arthur Kleinman Wirun Limsawart Health Care on the Border: Professional Caregiving, Universal Health Security, and Tuberculosis Control in Thailand and Its Border with Myanmar Abstract This dissertation is an ethnography of caregiving and bureaucracy. It examines professionals’ practice of caregiving in the context of the two global health movements—the expansion of universal health coverage (UHC) and the “eradication” of tuberculosis (TB)—in Thailand, a global model of UHC, and its border with Myanmar, the other TB-laden nation in which UHC is still far from being achieved. Drawing from more than eight years of experience working as a Thai medical doctor and fourteen months of fieldwork in Thailand, I explore how professionals who work in the health bureaucracies strived to ensure health security of every person regardless of national boundaries.
    [Show full text]