Social Research and Action Institute Foundation MOU 60 Bangkok Community aims to develop health system innovation, creating sustainable “community primary care”

Foundation of the Institute of Social Research and Action MOU with the Department of Health Thung Khru District Office Thonburi District Office and Suan Luang District Office Aiming at developing health system innovation, creating sustainable “community primary care”, piloting 60 communities in 3 districts/communities not registered with Bangkok.

Date: 24 April 2024, Foundation of the Institute of Social Research and Action together with the health department Bangkok Thonburi District Office Suan Luang District Office Thung Khru District Office and representatives from 60 communities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on promoting participation in health promotion and disease prevention services for vulnerable groups in urban communities. With Mrs. Namphet Tangyingyong, Director of the National Health Security Office, Region 13, Dr. Preeda Tae-arak, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Health Commission (NHCO), and Dr. Suthat Chotanaphan, Director of the Institute for Disease Prevention and Control. Urban District (DOC) Department of Disease Control joined as witnesses at the Chaloem Phrakiat Conference Room, Building 2, 8th Floor, Thonburi Rajabhat University.

Dr. Chamnian Woraratchaiphan Chairman of the Foundation for the Institute of Social Research and Action said that in the past the decentralization of treatment to local areas was still largely concentrated in government agencies. But if we begin to build strengths for the community to participate in management that creates participation in the development of community primary health systems by the community for the community. Both in terms of information, health, additional scientific knowledge. And being a person who jointly manages the community in terms of health to participate with the government will create a new dimension of better self-management than before. Importantly, local personnel will have awareness of taking care of their own health and those around them. Including coming to help doctors and nurses will help reduce the work process for the community to have basic knowledge of nursing assistance and basic examinations. From developing people in the community to become volunteers in order to provide reinforcement in another way.

For the project to promote participation in health promotion and disease prevention services for vulnerable groups in urban communities. The Foundation for Social Research and Action Institute focuses on supporting and promoting the creation of a service system for monitoring the health status of people in the community. Develop knowledge about health promotion and prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases such as Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Therefore, it is expected to develop innovations in disease prevention service promotion mechanisms. There is no chronic contact at the community level in the community primary form.

“Previously, there was a target of approximately 6,000 families and 18,000 people in four types of communities, both registered communities and communities not registered with Bangkok, such as slum communities, urban communities, suburbs, housing developments, high-rise buildings, in order to enhance the expansion of disease promotion and prevention. From the community level to the district Develop a community primary care model to prevent NCDs for vulnerable groups, screening, and promoting knowledge. Modify behavior, track behavior changes in the community service system and referrals You will see a picture of the health screening of 18,000 volunteers and health volunteers that do not overlap with B.S.A. and Clinics while organizing community information systems including forwarding information to at-risk patients 5,000 people in the area are also creating incentives to change behavior. Educate volunteers to practice Passing sub-projects Connect health funds Following up on behavior change by volunteers in collaboration with network partners in joint health promotion work MOU”

Dr. Anon Kulthammanusorn Health systems researcher The International Health Policy Development Office said that in the big picture of the health system There are 3 levels of service: primary level, secondary level. and tertiary level By providing primary care services, that is, basic health services close to home that everyone can access. By not only basic treatment But it also covers the promotion, prevention, screening of disease and restoring health. Actually, the work of the World Health Organization or WHO and various member countries around the world have a common goal to keep people healthy. including physical, mental, and social health Including creating health justice by emphasizing the development of primary health services in Thailand in the context of global health, disease prevention, medical treatment, and rehabilitation of patients. The primary health care system is therefore the most efficient and least wasteful method. While the 3rd United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is good health and well-being. Therefore, community participation is a good common ground to help manage public health and reach people with a more understanding.

Dr. Preeda Tae-arak, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Health Commission, said that community primary care is considered a tool to create participation from all sectors. which is an important condition to build strength and taking care of everyone’s health Through the project to promote participation in health promotion and disease prevention services for vulnerable groups in urban communities, the NCPO has supported academic matters. and cooperation policy Causing the participation of various sectors especially the public health service system Importantly, the community must be the one who plans. and joint management To create knowledge about health promotion and disease prevention, activities were carried out to survey health status of people in the community. Different age groups and environments will create information. and use this information to plan together If you find anyone with poor health A system can be forwarded to relevant agencies. Cooperation brings power and lead to strength in the future

“Participation will help build sustainable communities. Importantly, it helps have a positive impact on the country’s public health system. If each community is strong People in the community can take care of themselves in times of minor illness by themselves. Reduce dependency on service units Reduce the workload of doctors and nurses to give more time to focus on difficult diseases, such as the Trok Saphan Yao community. It is considered a model community where people in the community participate. However, Each community has different problems, community conditions, environment, or community structure. But what can be learned is cooperation, various skills and knowledge. Here, if the results can be extended to 60 communities well, the NCPO has plans to continue working with Bangkok and related agencies. To expand the results to various communities all over Bangkok,” said the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Health Commission.

While Mr. Woraphong Phumkoson, representative of the Trok Saphan Yao community, Thonburi District, said that from the past Covid crisis The community has taken care of Preventing COVID-19 among themselves and seeing the cooperation of community members. Therefore, there is an idea to turn the crisis into an opportunity. By setting up a community for the community. and joined in discussions with the Foundation for the Institute of Social Research and Action In order to create a strong and sustainable primary community, we have worked together to create a project to promote participation in providing health promotion and disease prevention services for vulnerable groups in urban communities. The community will have a duty to promote access to the health system in the community. Create awareness of health care Screening for diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure And finally, there will always be follow-up results. which is basic knowledge about health care It will help people in the community have better health, be free from disease, and most importantly, reduce fewer patients entering the public health system. and reduce costs for the government sector

“Joining in signing this time for government agencies to help promote and support both the development of more health system knowledge, budget, as well as the use of technology to help the community work. However, for community primary care to be sustainable, people in the community must be the ones taking action. And the important goal is to build good relationships among people in the community,” said a representative of the Trok Saphan Yao community.

Currently, NCDs (Noncommunicable diseases or non-communicable diseases) are still the number one health problem in the world. While NCDs remain the number one health problem for Thai people, both in terms of disease burden and death rate, the rate of premature death (30-69 years) from noncommunicable diseases that Such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure. and chronic obstructive respiratory disease tends to increase Meanwhile, urban communities like Bangkok are considered to be a highly vulnerable group in terms of disease prevention because there are many factors in leading a life that is quite difficult. Promoting participation in managing health promotion and disease prevention services for vulnerable groups in urban communities is therefore necessary to accelerate. Development of community primary health systems by communities for communities