Dr. Ailan Li, WHO Representative to Thailand, paid a courtesy visit to the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), where she was warmly welcomed by Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, CEO of ThaiHealth, along with the senior management team. The visit centered on strategic discussions aimed at strengthening health promotion in Thailand and enhancing collaboration between WHO and ThaiHealth at national, regional, and global levels.
As Thailand’s health system continues to decentralize, ThaiHealth is embracing a people-centered, community-driven approach, working closely with local governments and Provincial Administrative Organizations (PAOs). This shift enables direct engagement with communities, resulting in more cost-effective and impactful health interventions.
A number of strategic issues were discussed including the ideas of DOPA.
Strategic Shift: DOPA-Driven Innovation
ThaiHealth’s current direction is guided by the DOPA framework:
- Data-driven: Leveraging local data to inform tailored health activities.
- Outcome-driven: Focusing on measurable health improvements.
- Partner-driven: Engaging multisectoral partners, particularly civil society organizations (CSOs), to drive sustainable change.
- AI-driven: Exploring the use of technology and artificial intelligence to enhance health promotion efforts.
This bottom-up model is being piloted in several provinces, supported by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) and other partners, through the innovative District Health Funding mechanism — a joint contribution from NHSO and Subdistrict Administrative Organizations that delivers direct benefits to communities.
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Success in Action: Helmet Banks for Child Safety
A standout initiative is the Helmet Bank program in Child Development Centers. Teachers educate children on helmet use, who then influence their families. The result: 100% helmet use among children in participating centers. With only 400 centers currently funded, ThaiHealth and NHSO aim to scale up nationwide to reach over 20,000 centers, reinforcing safe behavior from an early age.
Regional Leadership: Border Health and Beyond
Recognizing Thailand’s potential to lead regional health efforts, ThaiHealth is taking steps to strengthen Border Health, collaborating with partners to develop a Master Plan aimed at improving upstream health systems and migrant health across borders.
Dr. Pongthep emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, encouraging WHO Thailand to engage also with academia and NGOs as well as their counterparts in neighboring countries, acknowledging that technical expertise often resides across sectors.
Physical Activity and Policy Advocacy
ThaiHealth is preparing to co-host the South-east Asia Physical Activity Conference 2025 (SEAPAC2025), building on the legacy of the Bangkok Charter 2016 (an outcome of the ISPAH2016 Conference hosted by ThaiHealth) and the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 (GAPPA) movement. WHO will contribute to this regional effort to promote physical activity and healthier lifestyles.
ThaiHealth is also exploring the cost-effectiveness of a National Step Challenge, inspired by international models, and seeks WHO’s technical guidance on global best practices and evidence-based interventions.
Looking ahead: Strengthening the Health Alliance
ThaiHealth expressed interest in a co-creation initiatives with WHO. Example of key areas include:
- E-cigarette regulation
- Commercial determinants of health
- Healthy diets
- Border health
- Physical activity promotion
Dr. Ailan reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to improving health outcomes for the people and promoting Thailand’s leadership in global health. WHO stands ready to collaborate with ThaiHealth to strengthen evidence-based health promotion efforts across Thailand and the region
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