Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth)
Background
ThaiHealth was established by Health Promotion Foundation Act, B.E.
2544 (2001). The Act has authorised its status of statutory public
organisation and provided 2% earmarked taxation from tobacco and
alcoholic beverages as its primary funding source. ThaiHealth is the
country's only organization required by law to report directly to
Parliament every year. ThaiHealth commenced operation in April 2001 and
has been responsible for encouraging, supporting, and funding a variety
of health promotion activities for public health. ThaiHealth aims not
only to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption, but also to improve the
people's state of "total well-being" by fully applying the holistic
meaning of 'health' as defined by World Health Organization.
Legal mandate / basis
The Act set up ThaiHealth as a national body. The law has provided
unprecedented mission and funding. According to the Act 2001 Section 5,
the Foundation shall be a juristic person having the following
objectives:
- to promote and encourage health promotion in the population of all ages in accordance with the national health policy;
- to
create awareness of hazardous behaviour from the consumption of
alcoholic beverages, tobacco or other health-deteriorating substances
and to create belief in health promotion amongst people of all classes;
- to support campaigns for the reduction in the consumption of alcoholic
beverages, tobacco and other
health-deteriorating substances, and create public
awareness of the relevant legal provisions;
- to conduct studies and research, or encourage the conduct
of the study and research, training or organization of meetings with
regard to health promotion;
- to develop the ability of a
community in fostering health promotion by the community or private
organization, public benefit organization, Government Agencies, State
enterprises or other State Agencies;
- to support campaigns
for health promotion by various activities as a means by which members
of the public can improve their health, spare time fruitfully and
reduce their consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and other
health deteriorating substances.
Vision
The sustainability of health for Thai people
Mission
ThaiHealth's mission is to empower the various civic movements that
lead to an improvement in the well-being of Thai citizens. Operating
dimensions emphasize healthy public policies, issued-based programs,
and holistic 'setting' approaches. ThaiHealth provides catalytic
funding for projects that change public values, people's lifestyles,
and social environments.
Goals and objectives
ThaiHealth fully applies the holistic meaning of 'health' as defined by
the World Health Organization. We therefore aim not merely to reduce
the cases of certain health problems but rather to improve the people's
state of 'total well-being'.
Priorities
Currently, we have developed 13
major proactive programs. Most of them have been implemented. However,
some still are in process of strategic planning and key partner
identification. Priorities are in tobacco and alcohol control.
1. Tobacco Consumption Control Plan
2. Alcohol Consumption Control Plan
3. Road and Traffic Injuries Prevention Plan
4. Health Risk Factors Control Plan
5. Health Promotion in Communities Plan
6. Health Literacy Plan
7. Health Promotion in Organizations Plan
8. Physical Exercise and Sports of Health Plan
9. Social Marketing Plan
10. Open Grants and Innovative Projects Plan
11. Health Promotion through Health Service System Plan
12. Systems and Supportive Mechanism Development for Health Promotion Plan
Organizational structure
ThaiHealth has two boards. Besides the Governing Board (21 members)
which the Prime Minister chairs, ThaiHealth has an independent
Evaluation Board (7 members). The two Boards maintain equal authority
as both are appointed by the Royal Thai Cabinet. ThaiHealth has 80
staff and is consisted of 9 sections classified according to their
working approaches and related-work responsibility.
Annual resources
The law secures ThaiHealth's annual revenue of approximately $55
million which comes from a 2% surcharge on tobacco and alcohol taxes.
Contact Address
979 34th Floor, S.M. Tower,
Phaholyotin Road, Samsennai, Phayathai,
Bangkok 10400,
Thailand.
Tel. 66 (0) 2298-0500
Fax. 66 (0) 2298-0230
Email: info@thaihealth.or.th,
Internet: www.thaihealth.or.th