Abhisit : Holistic approach on Covid challenge
The Thai public health system should be restructured and redesigned with a holistic approach, according to Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
He said at a virtual “Zero Covid to Endemic” webinar organized by Beyond Public Health that Thailand needs to revamp its tax system, to improve public welfare, to decrease inequality and to minimize concentration risks in various group.
Thailand should also decentralize public sectors with more flexibility, efficiency, and effectiveness, and to engage other stakeholders.
Over the past few years of a covid pandemic, the country has learnt many lessons in view of the global and local contexts. One of the key issues is the lack of governance and coordination among nations and related parties.
According to a poll conducted by Beyond Public Health, Thailand’s top public health priority during the pandemic is healthcare accessibility and affordability. To improve the public health system, it is evident that the policymakers should have a clear vision and need to adopt proactive and preventive measures while keeping a balance between public healthcare and overall economy.
Public awareness of the updated status of covid, vaccination, immunization, hospitalization, risk management system should be communicated effectively and well-planned ahead of the potential risks. Thanks to covid impact prompting general public to shift towards digital technologies, hence, big data can also help in analyzing and predicting what measures and actions should be taken.
Former PM Abhisit said that the global citizens are facing with more challenges ie tech disruption, climate change, aging society which will create critical economic and social impacts.
Former PM Abhisit suggests that the government should take 3R approaches in tackle with the current situation. The first R is Recovery, to urgently figure out what should be appropriate budget allocation for government expenditures and to stimulate the overall economy. The second R is Rethink and redesign the country’s growth paradigm in consideration with foreign investment, incentives granted and impacts to our society. The last R is Restructure the public healthcare system and welfare.
To implement digitalization nationwide, infrastructures in rural areas should be implemented and organize training sessions to educate people to use and apply technologies, and to update laws in connection with shared public data so as not to violate privacy.
