Enhancing multi-sectoral collaborations for the prevention and control of NCDs in Thailand with a new approach
Issued Date
2024-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
14784505
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85212404250
Journal Title
Health Research Policy and Systems
Volume
22
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Health Research Policy and Systems Vol.22 No.1 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Sornpaisarn B., Chunharas S., Sornpaisarn S., Saonuam P., Nipun R.F., Butryee C., Samutachak B., Chandarasorn M., Supadulya N., Chunsuttiwat S., Singha S., Rojanapithayakorn W., Ungchusak K., Rehm J. Enhancing multi-sectoral collaborations for the prevention and control of NCDs in Thailand with a new approach. Health Research Policy and Systems Vol.22 No.1 (2024). doi:10.1186/s12961-024-01262-z Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/102520
Title
Enhancing multi-sectoral collaborations for the prevention and control of NCDs in Thailand with a new approach
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, Thailand must engage in effective multi-sectoral collaboration (MSC). However, implementing MSC in Thailand presents significant challenges. Although Thailand had a 2011–2020 MSC strategic plan for the control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with the prime minister taking the lead, joined by many non-health ministers, not a single meeting was called over those 10 years. This paper describes the development of a new tool created to enhance MSC between health and non-health sectors in controlling NCDs in Thailand. Stakeholder-engaged research will be used to implement and evaluate this tool. This paper also describes the research planned to test the new approach. Methods: The authors used two main methods: (1) a narrative review on MSC enhancement and (2) a series of four consultation meetings with key stakeholders – in the health, non-health and academic sectors – to develop a research study to implement and evaluate the new approach. Results: To address previous MSC implementation problems, the proposed novel MSC enhancement approach emphasizes three principles: (1) pursuit of committed-stakeholder involvement at the middle-management level, instead of relying on the top-management level, an approach which has never been successful; (2) production of knowledge to support specific, achievable target policies; and (3) use of a comprehensive set of knowledge-translation activities and knowledge brokers to solve the problem of ineffective routine official communications between members of the MSC. Using participatory consultations during the research proposal development, middle-level officials from three non-health ministries (the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance and Education) agreed to join the MSC to work together to solve specific problems regarding the control of NCDs. A target-advocated policy for each ministry was formulated and agreed upon by both non-health-sector and health-sector stakeholders. Conclusions: This new approach (middle-management oriented), if implemented, may encourage more commitment from the Ministries’ representatives, policy-relevant knowledge generation and effective communications between ministries involved in an MSC. Ideally, it would complement the conventional approach (top-management oriented) in enhancing the MSC for controlling NCDs, and thereby bring hope for achieving the NCD-related SDGs for Thailand and possibly other countries as well.
