Bangkok, Thailand – 27Nov – 1Dec, 2023 – Thai UHC Workshop
Towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in the concepts of Social Participation, the Research and Training Center for Community Development (RTCCD) [1] proudly represented Vietnam, joining forces with 8 countries, namely Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines, and India in the in-person workshop titled “Thai UHC Journey Workshop: Social Participation in Health Decision-Making.” [2] This collaborative workshop, unfolding from November 27 to December 1, 2023, was set to redefine the narrative on why social participation is the linchpin for a paradigm shift in health decision-making.
[3]
Revolutionizing Health Decision-Making through Social Participation in Thai UHC Workshop
Prepare to be captivated by the Thai UHC Workshop’s exploration into the transformative force of social participation in crafting health policies and programs. Unveiling insights from the WHO’s handbook on ‘Voice, agency, empowerment,’ the workshop propels the importance of social participation in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This isn’t just about policies but a seismic shift towards inclusivity, responsiveness, and efficiency, building trust and revolutionizing service uptake.
The Thai UHC Workshop opens with a deep dive into Thailand’s triumphant tri-power strategy. Participants will gain invaluable insights into the Thai Health Promotion Foundation’s role in strategically addressing Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) risk factors. It emphasizes that a robust health promotion foundation, backed by secure and sustainable funding, can strategically complement government spending on preventive care, paving the way for healthier populations.
[4]
The discourse expands globally, shedding light on the inadequacy of per capita spending on preventive care compared to curative care. Particularly in lower-middle and lower-income countries, the gap is stark. The workshop addresses this challenge head-on, emphasizing that prioritizing preventive care spending is crucial, especially in tackling NCD risk factors recommended by WHO’s Best Buy interventions.
The spotlight then turns to ThaiHealth, established in 2001 and funded by a 2% levy on tobacco and alcohol. This innovative approach has significantly contributed to addressing NCDs, presenting a compelling model for other countries. The Thai UHC Workshop aims to inspire nations to explore sustainable funding avenues for health initiatives, transforming challenges into opportunities.
Transitioning seamlessly, the workshop addresses the role of legislative frameworks in fostering social participation. Participants will gain insights into how laws can empower Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in their respective countries, contributing to democratizing health decision-making processes.
Crucially, the workshop places a magnifying glass on the monitoring and evaluation framework for social participation. Acknowledging that social participation is integral to health system governance, the Thai UHC Workshop advocates for a robust framework to measure progress. Quick wins and long-term impacts are equally emphasized, with a focus not only on the implementation of participatory mechanisms but also on the quality of dialogue and its tangible effects on health decisions and priorities.
05 Elements Unleashed for Social Participation Dominance
The Thai UHC Workshop is a journey into a new era of health governance, a space for all to meet a new approach to social participation. Unlocking the five Elemental keys to Institutionalizing Social Participation:
- Regular Participatory Platforms at All Levels: A relentless push for consistent public involvement in health landscape decisions.
- Capacity Building: Supercharging the skills and knowledge of individuals and communities, empowering them to be active architects of health discourse.
- Financial Resource Allocation: Unleashing financial prowess to ensure social participation becomes an unstoppable force, forever changing the health decision-making game.
- Laws and Regulations: Crafting legal frameworks that support and propel social participation into the core of health matters.
- Monitoring & Using Data: A relentless pursuit of truth, implementing vigilant monitoring and data utilization for decisions grounded in reality.
Global Minds Converge: Diverse Representation from 8 Nations in the Thai UHC Workshop
The Thai UHC Journey Workshop stands as a testament to unity in diversity, bringing together luminaries from 8 countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, and India. This gathering is more than a meeting; it’s a melting pot of ideas, experiences, and a commitment to rewriting the script of social participation in health decision-making.
As a representative of Vietnam delegates, Ms Nguyen Dinh Cam Van, NCD project coordinator of the Research and Training Center for Community Development (RTCCD), shared her experience and perspectives about some efforts of integrating social participation in UHC policy advocacy in Vietnam. She also mentioned the success story of engaging politicians, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia, and communities in advocating for adopting the Law on Alcohol Harm Prevention in Vietnam in 2019.
[5]
The assignment of Vietnam delegates on the Thai UHC Workshop’s final day illuminated a strategic triumph in alcohol harm prevention, an issue of critical public health concern. With a compelling narrative, Vietnam presented the success of advocating the law, backed by a collaborative strategy:
- Emphasized the Harms of Alcohol Consumption: Vietnam ranked 2nd in Southeast Asia and ranked 3rd in Asia regarding alcohol consumption, making the issue a top priority.
- Political Champions’ Commitment: The National Assembly and the Ministry of Health took a proactive stance, recognizing the harmful effects of alcohol.
- Synergistic Relationships: A tight-knit relationship emerged among champions, CSOs, and academia, creating a formidable force for change.
- Inclusive Drafting Process: CSOs were actively engaged in all stages of the drafting process, offering recommendations and feedback.
Vietnam’s approach to advocacy was multi-faceted, presenting a comprehensive social movement grounded in evidence, media engagement, and a win-win strategy:
- Evidence-Based Advocacy: The movement was rooted in internal research, international recommendations, and a keen understanding of community health issues.
- Media Campaign Excellence: Engaging journalists and media partners throughout the advocacy process amplified the impact and reach of the movement.
- Win-Win Strategy: Balancing public health interests with industry concerns, Vietnam successfully included regulations on drunk driving in the Law on Alcohol Harm Prevention 2019.
Vietnam’s home message resonates with the workshop’s overarching theme, calling for a “Triangle Approach”:
- Collaborative Financial Resources: Acknowledging the importance of pooling resources, Vietnam emphasizes the need for collaborative financial efforts.
- Capacity Building: Recognizing that knowledge is power, Vietnam underscores the importance of capacity building to empower individuals and communities.
- Legal Framework and Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) System: Highlighting the necessity of establishing a legal framework on social participation and a robust MEL system to measure and enhance the impact of participatory mechanisms.
Accordingly, representatives of the remaining countries also presented unified opinions based on their countries’ actual situations. As the Thai UHC Workshop progresses, this global symphony of ideas promises to set ablaze a new era of health governance, where diverse perspectives converge to reshape the narrative on social participation in health decision-making.
Igniting Action: From Knowledge to Global Impact
The Thai UHC Journey Workshop is more than a forum; it’s a launchpad for a global health revolution. As participants absorb these transformative insights, they are poised to return to their nations armed with knowledge, strategies, and a shared commitment to reshape health decision-making through the power of social participation.
[6]
With gratitude for the shared knowledge, experiences, and bonds forged, the Research and Training Center for Community Development (RTCCD) expresses anticipation for the ripple effects this Thai UHC Workshop will undoubtedly create. The symphony may have reached a crescendo, but the echoes will continue to resonate, creating a lasting legacy of change in global health governance.