WHO Praises Thailand’s Strength in Handling COVID-19
views
607
BANGKOK (NNT) - Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), recently sent a letter to Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to thank him for championing the Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR).
The letter also informed Minister Anutin that Thailand has been instrumental as one of the first countries in the world to pilot the UHPR initiative for public health emergencies and its handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
The WHO chief highlighted many of Thailand’s critical assets that were key to safeguarding and assisting its population and residents during the pandemic. These included enacting decisive national policies, maintaining an effective public healthcare and health insurance system with a dedicated workforce, innovative approaches to advancing health, and promoting multisectoral coordination between the government, private sector, and civil society.
Dr. Tedros noted that WHO members were particularly responsive to the presentation of Thailand’s performance to the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2022. Thailand is now cited as a guideline model for WHO members to follow in preparation for emerging diseases.
The WHO is currently updating its technical package based on information obtained via the UHPR initiative, with the WHO Technical Advisory Group to produce recommendations for improving and simplifying its working methods.
Minister Anutin said that the impact of covid-19 has reflected the fact that the global community didn’t prepare for such an outbreak. The lack of financial investment to respond to the pandemic is part of the issue. The 12th APEC’s High-Level Meeting on Health and Economy between August 25-26 this year has reached solutions for health and economy balance by focusing on health system investment, health security, and universal health coverage. Vaccine development and digital health technology are also key elements to coping with unpredictable outbreaks in the future.
Information and Source
Reporter : Paul Rujopakarn
Rewriter : Tarin Angskul
National News Bureau : http://thainews.prd.go.th
