Ministry of Public Health (Thailand) explained

Agency Name:	Kingdom of Thailand Ministry of Public Health
Type:	Ministry
Nativename A:	Thai: กระทรวงสาธารณสุข
Seal:	Seal of the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand.svg
Jurisdiction:	Government of Thailand
Headquarters:	Mueang Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi
Employees:	~400,000^[1]
Budget:	135,389 million baht (FY2019)
Minister1 Name:	Somsak Thepsuthin
Deputyminister1 Name:	Santi Promphat
Ministry of Public Health
Chief1 Name:	Opart Karnkawinpong, MD
Chief1 Position:	Permanent Secretary

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH; Thai: กระทรวงสาธารณสุข,) is a Thai governmental body responsible for the oversight of public health in Thailand. It is commonly referred to in Thailand by its abbreviation so tho (Thai: สธ.).

History

In Thailand before 1888 there were no permanent, public hospitals to provide care to sick people. Temporary hospitals were set up to care for patients during epidemics, then disbanded when the epidemic subsided. Under King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) a hospital was constructed and completed in 1888 and named "Siriraj Hospital" in commemoration of the king's young son, Prince Siriraj Kakudhabhand, who had died of dysentery.^[2] King Vajiravudh, King Chulalongkorn's successor, established Department of Health on 27 November 1918.

During the reign of King Rama VIII, the Ministry of Public Health was established on 10 March 1942 as a result of the enactment of the Ministries and Departments Reorganization Act (Amendment No. 3) of B.E. 2485. Later in 1966, the date 27 November was chosen as the commemoration day of the Ministry of Public Health's foundation.

Budget

The MOPH was allocated 135,389 million baht in the FY2019 budget.^[3]

Departments

Organisation

• Office of the Minister
• Office of the Permanent Secretary
• Department of Mental Health
• Department of Disease Control
• Department of Health
• Department of Medical Services
• Department of Medical Sciences
• Department of Health Service Support (HSS)^[4]
• Department of Thai Tradition and Alternative Medicine
• Food and Drug Administration^[5]

State enterprise

• Government Pharmaceutical Organization

Public organisations

• Ban Phaeo General Hospital (Public Organisation)
• Healthcare Accreditation Institute (Public Organisation)
• National Vaccine Institute (Public Organization)
• Health Systems Research Institute
• National Health Security Office (NHSO): Manages Thailand's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) system.^{[6] [7]}
• National Institute for Emergency Medicine

See also

• Government Pharmaceutical Organization (Thailand)
• Health in Thailand
• Hospitals in Thailand
• Royal Thai Army Medical Department
• Sukha
• Sukhaphiban
• Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program

Further reading

• Nam, Illan (2024). "The Uneven State: Center and Periphery in Shaping State Capacity in Thailand". World Politics. 76 (1): 38–87.

External links

• Thai Health Promotion Foundation
• Thailand Medical Hub

Notes and References

1. News: Bunyamanee. Soonruth. War against corruption must begin at home. 10 January 2018. Bangkok Post. 10 January 2018.
2. Web site: History of Public Health. Ministry of Public Health. 5 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160205114137/http://eng.moph.go.th/index.php/about-us/history-of-public-health. 5 February 2016. dead.
3. Web site: Thailand's Budget in Brief Fiscal Year 2019 . Bureau of the Budget. 92 . 20 December 2018. 28 November 2019 .
4. News: Chaiyong . Suwitcha . A sign of wisdom . 2018-12-10 . Bangkok Post . 2018-12-10.
5. Web site: FDA - Structure .
6. Web site: About NHSO . National Health Security Office . 27 April 2020.
7. News: Wangkiat . Paritta . Health budget cuts rife with prejudice . 27 April 2020 . Bangkok Post . 27 April 2020 . Opinion.