Ministry of Public Health (Thailand)

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH; Thai: กระทรวงสาธารณสุข, RTGS: Krasuang Satharanasuk) 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 (สธ.).

Ministry of Public Health

กระทรวงสาธารณสุข
Seal of Caduceus by Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong
Ministry overview
Formed	1918; 106 years ago (1918)
Jurisdiction	Government of Thailand
Headquarters	Mueang Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi
Employees	~400,000[1]
Annual budget	135,389 million baht (FY2019)
Minister responsible	Somsak Thepsuthin
Deputy Minister responsible	Dej-is Khaothong
Ministry executive	Opart Karnkawinpong, MD, Permanent Secretary
Website	www.moph.go.th

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[2]

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 Traditional 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.

References

1. Bunyamanee, Soonruth (10 January 2018). "War against corruption must begin at home". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
2. "History of Public Health". Ministry of Public Health. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
3. "Thailand's Budget in Brief Fiscal Year 2019". Bureau of the Budget. 20 December 2018. p. 92. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
4. Chaiyong, Suwitcha (2018-12-10). "A sign of wisdom". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
5. "FDA - Structure".
6. "About NHSO". National Health Security Office. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
7. Wangkiat, Paritta (27 April 2020). "Health budget cuts rife with prejudice" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Retrieved 27 April 2020.

External links

• Thai Health Promotion Foundation
• Thailand Medical Hub