Retrospective Study: Lessons Learned and Key Success Factors in the Promotion of the Production of Thai Traditional Medicines in Public Hospitals

Key Success Factors in the Promotion of the Production of Thai Traditional Medicines in Public Hospitals

Abstract

        After the proclamation of the Alma-Ata Declaration, the Ministry of Public Health responded to WHO’s recommendation by including traditional medicine policy to promote the use of medicinal plants in primary health care (PHC) in the Fourth National Economic and Social Development Plan (1977-1981). This research focused on the retrospective study of the lessons learned from the promotion of the production of Thai traditional medicines (TTM) in public hospitals in Thailand (2008-2013) and aimed to identify key success factors in TTM production development. According to the quantitative study among inexperienced public hospitals, the key success factors ranked from highest to lowest were budget, management, infrastructure, personnel development and networking. In contrast, the qualitative study among experienced public hospitals, the key success factors ranked from high to low were networking, personnel development, management, budget, and infrastructure, respectively. The discrepancy could be explained that, among the experienced hospitals, networking was the key driver and the most important sources of learning. The networking allowed the exchanges of both tacit and explicit knowledge that led to comprehensive understanding and know-how to eff ectively execute the TTM production project. Thus, the capacity of the project leader to infl uence team members and management personnel was simultaneously developed. In conclusion, the eff ectiveness of the budget spending and suitable infrastructure should be created by the project leader to successfully support the TTM production.