Policy Proposals for Development of Assessing Medical Fitness to Drive System for Road Safety in Thailand

Abstract

Traffic accidents have been significantly increasing serious incidents in Thailand for a long time. This qualitative study aimed to examine the development process of a medical fitness assessment system for public vehicle drivers, to analyze experiences in implementing the system, and to formulate policy and practical recommendations. Data collection was carried out using methods developed by reviewing documents and information from a project to improve medical fitness assessment systems for licensed public vehicle drivers. The goal of development was to reduce risky driving and traffic accidents. The study performed from January to May 2024, and then continued for data analyses by methods of inductive reasoning and categorical data measurements. The findings revealed that the Department of Disease Control conducted medical fitness assessments for licensed public vehicle drivers by integrating traffic medicine knowledge and establishing measures to prevent and address road traffic accidents. The process included developing the fitness assessment system, issuing medical certificates, providing health check-ups, and evaluating drivers' physical performance. Key success factors comprised the development of driving fitness assessment standards and the establishment of model clinics in Thailand. Policy recommendations proposed that the Ministry of Public Health should authorize the occupational medicine clinics functioning in hospitals nationwide to ensure comprehensive services. This included improving the diagnostic quality of occupational diseases according to the national standards. The Department of Medical Services should enhance expediency of the occupational medicine personnel. Practical recommendations from the findings include connecting health databases with licensing databases across all of vehicle types, enabling the monitoring and surveillance of drivers' health fitness. Additionally, the establishment of standardized occupational medicine clinics is recommended.