TOKYO, – Thailand’s Public Health Minister has elaborated on the importance on Thailand’s heath security system, the nation’s preparation to operate after the Global Fund sponsorship at a meeting in Japan.
The Minister of Public Health Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn gave a remark at the Preparatory Meeting for the Global Fund’s Fifth Voluntary Replenishment 2017-2019 in Tokyo, Japan on the subject of financial sustainability for the health security system.
On this occasion, the Minister answered questions on the importance of creating a health security system in Thailand, the preparation of Thailand to operate the scheme after no longer receive the financial support from the Global Fund, and the nation’s work as a partner of the Global Fund.
He said access to healthcare services is a constitutional rights to citizens of Thailand, as healthy citizens will help strengthen the nation’s economy, and will help ease poverty, a major obstacle that prevents people from receiving medical care. Thailand’s health security system will also facilitate the nation towards accesibility in healthcare services.
Thailand has included the treatment and prevention for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria into the nation’s health security scheme, marking a major achievement, and has eveb prepared to transformation plan at the end of the financial support scheme, from the Global Fund by appointing a national committee, to allocate additional financial support for healthcare services related to all three diseases.
Thailand is also willing to work with the Global Fund, especially at the regional level, to end issue of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria at border areas, and is willing to provide contributions in cash and in kind contributions. Thailand’s cooperation with the Global Fund will be revised during the transitioning process of Thailand, and for the establishment of the Networks of Countries in Transition in the region, says Public Health Minister.
The Ministry of Public Health is now encouraging participations from the government, private, and social sectors to push forward the health security system, and to provide services to the risk groups of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria such as persons with issues in their status and rights, immigrant labourers, narcotics taker through injection, and the members of the LGBT group.
