Potential Mechanism Development of Local Health Security Funds and Graduate Volunteers on Health Management

Abstract

Thailand has been faced the challenge to solve alcohol, tobacco, and drugs for decades. Many government sectors, especially ministry of public health, and non-government organizations, have critical roles in control and prevention. However, the other mechanisms are graduate volunteers and local health insurance funds that have not been yet cleared for their roles in these management. This study aimed to explore and develop the capacity of both mechanisms in generating plans and projects for fixing these health risk problems in community level. The study was conducted during June 2017-December 2018by a participatory action approach in 27 pilot provinces of 12 health regions, Thailand. The 578 participants consisting of100 graduate volunteers, 306local health security fund committee and 172 provincial coaching teams that were trained to create plans and projects through a specific website. The findings revealed that both mechanisms actioned in developing 843 plans for alcohol, tobacco, and drugs equally 276, 276, and 291, respectively. The 1,053 projects were approved to be done inside the community for alcohol, tobacco, and the drugs that were 325, 386, and 342, respectively. The strategic approaches in those plans and projected were categorized into8items:(1) New case prevention (2)Reducing an access (3) Quitting services (4) Alternativerehabilitation (5) Increasing social measures (6) Healthprotection for all (7) Increasing health risk communication (8)Personal role models and learning centers. These indicated thatboth mechanisms could be used for health risk solutions at thecommunity level in all parts of Thailand.